IN     BONDS. 


A    NOVEL. 


BY 


LAURA    PRESTON. 


WITH    CAUTION   JUDGE    OF    PROBABILITY  ; 
THINGS    THOUGHT   UNLIKELY,     E'EN    IMPOSSIBLE, 
EXPERIENCE    OFTEN    SHOWS    US    TO    BE   TRUE." 

Shakespeare. 


A.     ROMAN    &    COMPANY, 
BOOKSELLERS,   PUBLISHERS,   AND   IMPORTERS, 

417  and  419  Montgomery  St.,  San  Francisco  : 

I  7  MERCER  ST. ,    NEW  YORK. 

1867. 


fsss 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1867, 

By    A.    ROMAN    &    CO., 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District  of  the  State  of  California. 


EDWARD    BOSQUI    &    CO.,     PRINTERS, 
517  Clay  Street. 


To    WALTER    WILLIAM    PALMER, 

OF      SAN      FRANCISCO, 

This   Volume  is  Affectionately  Dedicated. 


SAN    FRANCISCO, 

April,  1867. 


IN     BONDS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  In  Love,  if  Love  be  Love,  if  Love  be  ours, 
Faith  and  unfaith  can  ne'er  be  equal  powers; 
Unfaith  in  aught  is  want  of  faith  in  all." 

"  Trust  me  not  at  all  or  all  in  all." 

Tennyson's  "  Vivian." 

THE  tide  was  coming  in.  Gen- 
tly the  swelling  waves  kissed 
the  pebbly  strand,  as  they  yielded 
unto  it  their  offerings  of  strangely- 
fashioned  shells  and  clinging  weeds. 
Gleaming  in  the  last  rays  of  the  set- 
ting sun,  they  rolled  murmuringly 
almost  to  the  feet  of  a  young  girl  who 
stood  pensively  watching  their  ebb 
and  flowr. 

The  scene  was  exceedingly  wild 
and  picturesque,  and  of  it  the  fair 
wanderer  formed  a  striking  feature  as 
she  stood  facing  the  ocean  framed 
by  gray,  barren  cliffs  which  rose  ab- 
ruptly upon  each  hand.  Standing 
thus  with  the  shadows  of  evening 
stealthily  gathering  over  her  face  and 
enwrapping  her  form,  and  all  sur- 
rounding it,  she  might  have  been 
fancied  the  very  Genius  of  Solitude. 
She  was  of  medium  height,  though 
she  looked  much  taller  as  she  stood, 
with  her  crimson  shawl  wrapped 
closely  around  her  slender  figure, 
gazing  intently  far  over  the  waters. 
She  was  very  pale  —  not  purely  white 
—  but  of  that  rich  olive  tint  which  dis- 


tinguishes beauties  of  the  far  South. 
Even  her  cheeks  were  unflushed  by  a 
tint  of  rose,  yet  were  redeemed  from 
sallowness  by  a  glow  of  warmth  which 
was  diffused  over  her  countenance, 
as  if  a  sunbeam  were  prisoned  there. 
Her  hair  was  of  purplish  blackness, 
shining  and  wavy,  brushed  plainly 
back  from  the  somewhat  low  fore- 
head, and  gathered  in  a  large  knot 
at  the  back  of  her  well-formed  head. 
A  bow  of  crimson  ribbon  enhanced 
its  blackness,  and  gave  a  tint  of  color 
to  the  cheek  near  which  it  floated. 
A  shadow  of  deep  thought — a  faint 
trace  of  melancholy — seemed  to  set- 
tle upon  her  as  she  thus  stood  mo- 
tionless, her  full  red  lips  compressed, 
and  her  white  hands  tightly  clasped, 
as  if  in  a  mighty  effort  to  restrain  the 
impatience  of  her  soul. 

At  last  she  started,  and  a  smile  of 
joy  banished  all  gloom  from  her  face 
as  she  heard  the  faint  sound  of  a  hu- 
man voice  break  upon  the  stillness. 
Turning  quickly  she  eagerly  looked, 
first  to  the  narrow,  level  beach  on  her 
left,  and  then  up  among  the  cliffs, 
upon  a  narrow  path  by  which  also  the 
cove  might  be  gained.  On  the  sum- 
mit of  the  highest  cliff  stood  a  young 
man,  who  waved  his  hand  in  token 
of  recognition,  and  then  began  the 
descent  of  the  precipitous  path.  The 


In   Bonds. 


way  was  rugged  and  called  into  action 
all  his  agility  and  strength  of  muscle. 
His  figure  was  tall  and  slender,  but 
seemingly  not  fitted  to  endure  much 
fatigue.  His  face  was  handsome, 
delicate  in  its  outlines,  and  express- 
ive of  more  pride  than  strength  of 
character,  its  greatest  charm  resting 
in  the  gentle  expression  of  the  lips, 
the  proud  curves  and  lines  of  which 
seemed  ever  on  the  point  of  yielding 
to  the  joyous  smile  that  betokens  a 
benevolent  soul.  High-minded  and 
good-natured,  those  who  knew  him 
best  described  Harold  DeGrey  to  be. 
His  was  a  character  that  needed  no 
disguises,  and  affected  none. 

The  young  girl  contemplated  his 
descent  with  a  smile  of  pleasure  upon 
her  lips,  and  sprang  joyfully  forward 
as  he  gained  the  flat  beach  and  stood 
before  her. 

"La  Guerita,  I  am  most  happy 
to  find  you  here  !  "  he  exclaimed, 
clasping  his  arms  around  her  and 
pressing  a  kiss  upon  her  lips,  smil- 
ing rapturously  as  she  glanced  at  him 
shyly  through  her  long  curling  lashes. 

"My  love,"  he  continued,  exult- 
antly, "you  know  I  promised  you 
good  news  if  you  would  meet  me 
here,  and  did  I  ever  deceive  you,  La 
Guerita  ? " 

"  O  no,  Harold  !  "  she  spoke  ea- 
gerly ;  yet  she  trembled  and  her  lips 
grew  pale. 

"And  I  will  not  now,  my  own  !  I 
have,  indeed,  good  news  for  you  ;  or 
at  least  I  shall  be  the  most  miserable 
of  men  if  you  do  not  find  it  so.  I 
have  seen  Professor  Harland.  All 
is  satisfactory.  He  consents  to  our 
union,  and  nothing  now  remains  to 
serve  as  a  barrier  to  our  felicity." 

"But,  Harold,  what  did  the  Pro- 


fessor say  ?  "  she  spoke  anxiously,  as 
if  scarcely  satisfied  with  the  manner 
in  which  her  lover  had  spoken. 

He  instantly  became  grave,  as  he 
replied  :  ' '  He  said  enough,  my  love, 
to  allay  all  my—  -  your  scruples. 
Mine  your  sweet  face  had  long  ago 
allayed." 

"Did  he  tell  you ?  "  she  be- 
gan eagerly. 

' '  He  told  me  very  little,  dearest, 
but  what  we  knew  before, "  interrupt- 
ed DeGrey  ;  ' '  and  although,  my . 
love,  it  is  indeed  a  pleasure  to  me 
to  be  confirmed  in  my  ideas  of  the 
respectability  of  your  birth,  you  will 
not,  I  am  sure,  believe  that  my  affec- 
tion for  you  could  have  been  lessened 
even  if  your  own  foolish  fears  had 
been  proven  true. " 

She  smiled  a  reply,  and  a  little 
doubtfully,  he  thought,  and  coloring 
redly,  he  exclaimed  :  ' '  Ah,  La  Gue- 
rita, you  think  it  has  not  long  been 
so,  but  I  believe  it  has  been  the  case 
for  a  much  longer  period  than  I  am 
myself  aware  of. " 

' '  I  am  happy  to  believe  it, "  she 
said  unaffectedly,  ' '  but  I  would  not 
have  you  blind  to  your  own  feelings 
or  interests,  Harold,  or  be  so  myself. 
I  know  that  you  are  proud,  and  the 
mystery  surrounding  my  birth  must 
be  a  sore  trial  to  you. " 

He  did  not  speak,  but  the  expres- 
sion of  his  face  showed  that  she  was 
right.  She  stood  at  his  side  uneasily 
for  a  moment,  then  turning  toward 
him  with  a  quick,  impatient  gesture, 
asked,  ' '  What  did  Professor  Harland 
say  ? " 

' '  Enough  to  satisfy  me  !  "  return- 
ed DeGrey,  ingenuously  owning  that 
his  pride  had  long  striven  with  his 
love,  even  as  her  own  had  done, 


In  Bonds. 


but  not  so  generously.  ' '  In  the  first 
place,  La  Guerita,  he  told  me,  as  you 
know  already,  that  Fabean  and  your- 
self were  left  in  his  care  when  mere 
infants  by  an  elderly  Quakeress,  and 
a  gentleman  of  prepossessing  and 
distinguished  appearance.  Professor 
Harland  was  at  that  time  very  poor, 
and  in  consideration  of  the  princely 
sum  offered  him,  readily  consented 
to  receive  the  two  into  his  family,  ask- 
ing no  questions,  and  receiving  no 
information  concerning  them,  save 
what  the  quakeress  dropped  in  the 
few  words,  ' '  God  bless  thee,  for  thou 
art  saving  two  innocent  babes  a  world 
of  trouble.  Thou  hast  a  kind  face  ; 
they  will  be  safe  with  thee. " 

' '  I  never  heard  of  this  quakeress 
before,"  cried  La  Guerita  in  amaze- 
ment, "and  her  connection  with  me 
appears  to  destroy  the  theory  that  I  am 
of  foreign  birth  !" 

"Not  at  "all!"  replied  DeGrey, 
' '  for  the  Professor  assures  me  that 
the  gentleman  spoke  no  English,  and 
therefore  he  conversed  with  him  only 
in  Spanish.  His  knowledge  of  the 
language  at  that  time  was  quite  limit- 
ed, yet  he  has  now  every  reason  to 
suppose  that  his  conjecture  as  to  the 
nativity  of  the  stranger  was  correct. 
He  believes,  too,  La  Guerita,  that 
Fabean  and  yourself  are  the  offspring 
of  a  noble  family — the  liberal  allow- 
ance yearly  forwarded  to  you  through 
Town  &  Forest,  declares  that  you  are 
supplied  by  no  niggardly  hand,  while 
the  noble  bearing  of  both  your  brother 
and  yourself,  satisfies  me  that  the 
proudest  of  the  land  might  deem  your 
alliance  an  honor. " 

The  young  girl  had  withdrawn  from 
her  lover's  encircling  arm,  and  look- 
ed at  him  as  if  to  read  his  inmost 


soul,  saying  slowly,  ' '  Harold,  have 
you  no  doubts  ?  Are  you  indeed  sat- 
isfied that  I  am  worthy  in  all  respects 
to  be  your  wife  ?" 

"More  than  worthy  !  Yes,  more 
than  worthy  !"  he  cried  excitedly,  "I 
must  have  been  mad  to  doubt  it  so 
long.  None  other  ever  questioned 
the  purity  of  your  origin  ;  I  would 
have  stricken  them  to  the  earth  had 
they  dared  to  do  so.  The  closest 
observers  say  there  is  about  you  an 
air  of  pride  and  conscious  worth 
that  low  born  people  could  never 
assume. " 

She  smiled  drearily,  saying  in  a  low 
voice,  ' '  I  have  such  strange  thoughts 
sometimes  Harold.  Occasionally  in 
such  hours  as  that  preceding  your 
coming,  oftener  still  when  I  wake 
from  a  troublous  dream  ;  I  so  often 
wonder  in  what  direction,  over  this 
waste  of  waters  I  must  sail  to  reach 
my  home,  and  those  whom  my  birth 
should  have  made  my  friends." 

"That  is  not  after  all  a  puzzling 
question, "  returned  Harold  DeGrey, ' 
' '  your  very  name  is  indicative  of  the 
place  of  your  birth,  '  La  Guerita  De- 
Cuba — the  Fair  Maid  of  Cuba. '  Can 
you  doubt  that  beneath  the  orange 
boughs  of  that  sunny  isle  your  eyes 
first  saw  the  light  ?" 

' '  Fabean  believes  that  to  be  the 
case, "  said  the  young  girl,  musingly  ; 
adding  after  a  few  moments  thought, 
' '  I  myself  have  no  cause  to  doubt  it. 
I  often  wonder,  Harold,  that  my 
brother  thinks  so  lightly  of  our  strange 
position  ;  it  does  not  seem  to  trouble 
him  in  the  least,  and  indeed  I  thought 
but  little  of  it  myself  until — 

' '  I  troubled  you  with  foolish  ques- 
tions, "  interrupted  DeGrey.  ' '  My  La 
Guerita,"  he  continued,  excitedly, 


8 


In  Bonds. 


' '  I  was  ungenerous — ay,  unmanly — 
I  thank  God  my  great  love  for  you 
has  made  me  strong  !  You  know  I 
was  born  and  bred  an  aristocrat  ; 
by  my  high-born  English  mother — 
my  peerless  mother — I  was  taught 
from  infancy  to  hold  a  stainless  name 
of  infinitely  more  value  than  all  other 
possessions,  and  I  do  so  still ;  the  be- 
lief that  was  born  with  me  will  never 
die.  But  that  your  descent  is  as  spot- 
less as  my  own,  thank  God,  I  firmly 
believe. " 

"Else  you  would  not  be  here!" 
she  said  disdainfully. 

"Else,  La  Guerita,  I  had  never 
loved  you,"  he  returned,  gently. 
"Think  you  my  heart  would  have 
sprung  forth  to  claim  as  its  mate  one 
whose  pulses  throbbed  with  churlish 
blood.  No,  my  very  love  is  surety 
to  me  of  your  purity.  Come  to  me, 
love  !  Come  to  me. " 

She  sank  into  his  arms,  yielding  to 
the  love,  that  stronger  than  pride  or 
duty,  refused  to  aid  her  in  condemn- 
ing one  who  tach  moment  uttered 
words  that  filled  her  soul  with  dread. 
" I  am  very  weak, "  she  sobbed  ;  "I 
cannot  say — 'leave  me  ere  it  is  too 
late ;'  yet  I  would  rather  that  you 
should  break  my  heart  now,  than  live 
to  know  one  pang  of  shame  for  me  !" 

' '  Leave  you,  La  Guerita !  Nev- 
er !"  exclaimed  DeGrey  passionately, 
aroused  by  his  surprise  from  his  usual 
calmness.  "Have  I  not  told  you 
that  I  am  convinced  that  some  dark 
cloud  envelopes,  but  stains  not,  a 
name  as  fair,  and  perhaps  more  noble 
than  my  own.  Victor  is  assured  of 
it,  and  even  my  mother ;  they  long 
to  embrace  you.  La  Guerita,  I  love 
you  ;  happen  what  may,  I  cannot 
leave  you  ;  never  speak  of  it  again. 


Have  you  not   said   that   you   love 
me  ?" 

"I  do!  I  do!"  she  returned, 
quickly  and  fervently.  ' '  That  is  why 
I  tremble  to  look  into  the  future.  I 
would  rather  die  than  bring  sorrow 
upon  you.  Ah,  Harold !  I  have 
grown  to  be  a  strange  coward  of 
late. " 

"And  needlessly,  too,  I  am  sure  !" 
said  DeGrey,  caressingly,  and  sooth- 
ing her  fondly.  Professor  Harland 
showed  me  to-day  the  last  letter  he 
received  concerning  you.  It  was,  as 
usual,  written  in  Spanish,  and  signed 
"DeCuba."  It  contained  instruc- 
tions to  the  Professor,  in  case  you 
should  desire  to  marry.  ' '  The  suitor 
must  be  of  good  family  and  spotless 
reputation, "  was  explicitly  said  ;  and 
does  not  that  alone  clearly  prove  that 
you  can  lay  claim  to  the  same  ?" 

She  shook  her  head. 

"Well !  well !"  he  exclaimed,  im- 
patiently, yet  fondly  ;  "  I  cannot  leave 
you,  La  Guerita.  I  am  willing,  for 
your  sweet  sake,  to  cast  aside  my 
usual  caution,  and  take  one  leap  in 
the  dark.  All  the  world  will  be  light 
with  you  near  me. " 

She  received  his  caresses  as  if  spell- 
bound ;  she  could  not  speak  the 
words  that  hung  heavily  on  her  lips. 
The  silence  had  become  almost  ter- 
rible to  her,  fraught,  as  it  was,  with 
so  much  of  love  and  pain  ;  when  it 
was  broken  by  a  clear  voice  shouting 
forth  a  merry  boating  song. 

"  Ah  !  it  is  Fabean  !"  they  simul- 
taneously exclaimed  ;  ' '  and  in  good 
time,  too.  He  has  remembered  what 
we  had  forgotten — that  the  tide  rises 
high  enough  here  to  cut  off  all  means 
of  retreat  by  the  shore.  Had  he  not 
come  we  should  have  had  to  scale 


In  Bonds. 


these   cliffs    to    reach    Fairview    to- 
night. 

' '  Ah  !  Fabean  is  always  thought- 
ful !"  exclaimed  La  Guerita,  gazing 
fondly  and  admiringly  upon  a  young 
man  who,  with  long  and  steady 
strokes,  was  guiding  a  small  boat  to- 
wards them. 

' '  Make  ready,  there,  to  come 
aboard  !"  he  shouted  as  he  neared 
the  shore,  and  looked  laughingly 
upon  his  sister  and  her  lover.  ' '  Pret- 
ty folks  you  are, '  to  make  a  tryst  at 
such  a  place  ;  you  may  thank  your 
stars  that  I  guessed  something  of  it. " 

"I  am  inclined  to  think  you  a 
Yankee  after  all, "  said  DeGrey,  with 
a  laugh,  as  the  young  man  rested  on 
his  oars.  "You  are  a  veritable 
Jonathan  for  guessing,  and  there  is 
nothing  Spanish  in  your  face,  I  am 
sure. " 

There  was  not,  indeed.  His  coun- 
tenance was  of  the  purest  Saxon  type  ; 
his  complexion  remarkably  clear  and 
fair ;  his  hair  light-brown,  and  his 
eyes  darkly  blue.  Both  in  face  and 
figure  he  formed  a  striking  contrast 
to  his  sister. 

They  sometimes  deplored  the  dif- 
ference, for  they  loved  each  other  so 
deeply  ;  they  fain  would  have  resem- 
bled each  other,  if  only  in  person  ; 
for  their  dispositions  were  hopelessly 
at  variance.  La  Guerita  was  often 
sad  ;  while  nothing  ever  clouded  Fa- 
bean's  brow.  She  delighted  in  intel- 
lectual pursuits ;  while  he,  at  eigh- 
teen, still  loved  the  sports  of  boyhood, 
and  laughed  all  serious  thoughts  to 
scorn. 

On  that  sunny  afternoon  his  spirits 

were  most  exuberant,  and  'ere  they 

had  long  been  seated  in  his  boat,  he 

had  infected  DeGrey  with  his  inirth- 

2 


ful  humor.  But  La  Guerita  spoke 
and  smiled  but  little ;  she  seemed 
lost  in  thought.  Her  lover  often  at- 
tempted to  laugh  away  the  gloom 
that  had  settled  upon  her,  and  her 
brother  laughingly  rallied  her  upon 
her  silence.  At  another  time  his 
jests  would  have  aroused  her  from  the 
deepest  abstraction  ;  but  then  they 
were  powerless,  and  insensibly  each 
became  affected  by  her  dejection,  and 
fell  into  thought. 

So  many  minutes  passed  ;  when 
suddenly  La  Guerita  seemed  oblivi- 
ous of  the  presence  of  any  one  save 
her  lover.  She  turned  towards  him 
abruptly,  glancing  at  him  with  a 
troubled  expression  in  her  lustrous 
eyes,  saying, 

' '  I  am  doing  very  wrong.  I  know 
it ;  I  know  it. " 

"  How  is  that  possible  ?"  exclaim- 
ed DeGrey. 

"  I  feel  that  I  am  tempting  Provi- 
dence, "  she  returned,  in  a  low,  thrill- 
ing voice.  ' '  I  feel  that  I  am  tempt- 
ing God  to  bring  some  great  calamity 
upon  me  by  consenting  to  marry-  you 
while  this  darkness  is  upon  me. " 

"La  Guerita  !"  rejoined  her  lover, 
somewhat  sadly  ;  "I  have  often  no- 
ticed that  God  is  to  you  a  terrible  and 
merciless  Being — never  the  Christ 
who,  in  His  tender  mercy,  came 
from  heaven  to  save  sinners.'"' 

She  bowed  her  head,  feeling  keen- 
ly how  clearly  he  had  read  her  inmost 
soul. 

They  had  reached  a  small  dock,  at 
the  foot  of  an  extensive  lawn,  and 
were  about  to  land.  La  Guerita  De- 
Cuba  arose  and  silently  gave  her  hand 
to  DeGrey,  and  it  was  not  until  they 
were  alone  on  the  lawn  that  she  ven- 
tured to  speak  to  him. 


10 


In  Bonds. 


"O,  Harold!"  she  said  then,  as 
they  stood  together  looking  at  Fa- 
bean,  who  was  securing  his  boat, 
' '  I  feel  afraid  to  own,  even  to  my- 
self, my  happiness  ;  for,  though  filled 
with  painful  doubts,  I  am  so  happy 
to  think  I  have  one,  besides  Fabean, 
that  I  may  love.  Since  I  cast  off  the 
carelessness  of  childhood,  I  have  ot- 
ten  wept  bitterly  to  think  I  had  no 
claim  upon  the  love  or  sympathy  of 
any  creature. " 

"La  Guerita!"  cried  DeGrey, 
clasping  her  to  his  bosom,  "you 
need  never  weep  for  that  again.  I 
love  you,  my  darling,  more  than 
words  can  express.  Let  my  actions 
prove  it.  Dearest,  the  Professor 
knows  that  you  will  shortly  leave 
him,  and  approves  my  proposal,  that 
on  your  seventeenth  birthday  you 
shall  become  my  wife. " 

"What!  within  a  month?"  cried 
La  Guerita. 

"Yes,  darling.  What  is  to  pre- 
vent?" 

' '  True,  I  have  no  ties  elsewhere, " 
she  replied,  with  flushing  cheeks  and 
glistening  eyes,  "and  I  shall  want 
none  then.  O,  Harold,  you  will 
love  me?" 

"Ever — ever  !  my  darling. " 

The  promise,  often  as  it  had  before 
been  given,  never  had  seemed  so 
fraught  with  comfort  as  then.  They 
walked  on  thoughtfully  until  they 
reached  the  house,  which  had  been 
for  nearly  sixteen  years  the  home  of 
Fabean  and  La  Guerita  DeCuba.  At 
the  door  the  lovers  spoke  their  part- 
ing words.  La  Guerita  remembered 
them  well  and  oft  in  future  years. 

' '  Harold  ! "  she  said,  ' '  whatever 
betides,  you  will  never  hate  or  for- 
sake me  ?" 


He  held  her  in  his  arms,  and  look- 
ing steadfastly  into  her  trustfiul  eyes, 
replied  :  "As  God  lives,  I  will  be  true 
to  you,  my  darling — my  promised 
wife  !'' 

CHAPTER  II. 

"  There  are  two  kinds  oi  Love — that  which  yields 
all  for  the  welfare  of  its  object,  whatever  be  its  own 
pain  ;  and  that  which  claims  all,  caring  nought  for  the 
weal  or  woe  of  the  giver.  Judge,  ye,  which  is  the 
noblest  passion." 

HAROLD  DeGrey"  left  his  betrothed 
with  the  firm  conviction  that  she  was 
the  scion  of  a  race  as  noble  as  his 
own,  and  that  she  possessed  princi- 
ples as  high  as  those  which  had  for 
years  rendered  his  name  famous. 
Though  by  birth  an  American,  he 
bore  in  his  veins  the  proud  blood  of 
English  parentage.  Poor,  but  proud, 
had  his  father  been  in  his  youthful 
days,  and  as  poor  and  proud  the  lady 
he  chose  for  his  wife.  But  loving 
each  other  ardently,  they  married, 
and  sought  in  the  New  World  the 
wealth  denied  them  in  the  Old.  It 
was  soon  found,  but  not  long  enjoy- 
ed ;  for  the  elder  DeGrey,  dying  at 
the  early  age  of  forty,  left  a  widow, 
who  never  ceased  to  mourn  his  loss  ; 
and  two  young  sons,  who,  though  in 
affluent  circumstances,  for  many  years 
most  sadly  needed  his  firm,  yet  gen- 
tle guardianship. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Harold 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  while  Vic- 
tor, his  brother,  younger  by  seven 
years,  was  preparing  for  college  un- 
der the  tutelage  of  Prof.  Harland. 
It  was  during  a  visit  to  Victor  that 
Harold  first  met  La  Guerita  DeCuba. 
She  was  then  scarcely  fifteen  years 
old,  but  gave  promise  of  great  beauty. 
Already  had  she  attained  her  full  stat- 


In  Bonds. 


ii 


ure  and  much  of  the  grace  of  future 
years.  Harold  DeGrey  forgot  that 
she  was  still  but  a  child,  and  from 
the  first  moment  of  their  acquaint- 
ance felt  that  she  was  of  all  creatures 
the  most  beautiful — the  most  fitted  to 
be  loved.  Greatly  was  he  shocked  to 
learn  that  her  parentage  was  unknown 
— that  she  was  educated  and  support- 
ed by  a  hidden  hand. 

"Thank  God!"  exclaimed  De- 
Grey  to  himself  upon  receiving  this 
information  ;  ' '  Thank  God  that  I 
have  discovered  this  so  soon.  I 
might  perhaps  have  learned  to  love 
that  girl  ;  might  even  have  desired  to 
marry  her,  but  for  this  disclosure." 

And  in  spite  of  it,  he  soon  discov- 
ered that  he  loved  La  Guerita  De- 
Cuba,  and  that  his  happiness  de- 
pended upon  his  union  with  her. 
For  many  months  the  olden  pride  of 
the  DeGreys  held  him  back  ;  then 
his  mother's  entreaties  strongly  influ- 
enced him  ;  but  he  could  not  give 
her  up.  He  knew  that,  even  while 
he  exclaimed  in  argument  with  him- 
self, that  he  could  not  marry  one  of 
plebian  birth,  not  even  to  secure 
life-long  happiness. 

Harold  DeGrey  had  ever  been 
noted  for  his  practical  and  dispas- 
sionate mind.  Never  had  he  allowed 
his  feelings  to  triumph  over  his  judg- 
ment, and  he  was  unwilling  to  do  so 
even  in  this  matter,  wherein  all  his 
future  joy  was  centered.  For  two 
years  he  loved  her  before  he  became 
satisfied  that  the  mystery  surrounding 
her  had  been  cast  there  by  other 
causes  than  shame  and  infamy,  and 
spoke  the  words  that  were  to  La 
Guerita  DeCuba  the  sweetest  of  all 
utterances. 

He  knew  that  she  loved  him,  and 


gloried  in  the  blissful  certainty.  In 
his  heart  he  humbled  himself  before 
her,  as  a  subject  smiled  upon  by  a 
gracious  queen.  He  felt  himself 
strangely  honored  and  blessed  by  her 
affection,  and  received  those  feelings 
as  proofs  of  her  nobility ;  and  when 
he  parted  from  her  at  the  door  of  the 
Fairview  Academy,  he  believed  fully 
that  his  marriage  would  eventually 
add  new  lustre  to  his  name,  and  give 
peace  and  joy  to  his  restless,  ambi- 
tious heart. 

But  it  was  with  a  mind  filled  with 
many  forebodings,  that  La  Guerita 
DeCuba  watched  him  from  the  steps 
until  he  disappeared  from  her  sight. 
Then  she  softly  opened  the  door 
and  entered  the  house,  meeting 
in  the  hall  a  servant,  who  told  her 
that  a  gentleman — Mr.  Leveredge — 
was  in  the  parlor,  and  had  for  some 
time  been  waiting  to  see  her. 

A  look  of  pain,  strangely  mingled 
with  horror,  for  a  moment  rested 
upon  her  face  ;  but  pausing  a  mo- 
ment to  subdue  her  emotions,  she 
took  off  her  shawl,  and  giving  it  to 
the  sen-ant,  with  a  firm  step  entered 
the  parlor. 

As  she  opened  the  door  a  gentle- 
man arose  to  greet  her ;  but  with  a 
cold  bow  of  recognition,  and  a  slight 
wave  of  the  hand,  she  motioned  him 
back  to  the  chair  he  had  vacated,  and 
seated  herself  on  a  sofa  at  some  dis- 
tance from  him.  Every  motion  of 
her  body — every  lineament  of  her 
face,  expressed  contempt  and  dislike  ; 
yet  there  was  nothing  in  the  appear- 
ance of  Claude  Leveredge  to  produce 
either. 

His  form  and  features  were  decid- 
edly of  true  American  mould.  His 
tall,  lithe  frame  his,  piercing  black 


12 


In  Bonds. 


eyes,  and  high  cheek  bones,  were  in- 
dicative of  the  red  blood  that  tinged 
his  veins.  He  gloried  in  those  proofs 
of  his  descent  from  a  warlike  race, 
and  was  wont  to  say  :  ' '  Virginians 
can  find  in  North  Carolina  men  born 
of  a  princess  as  pure  and  beautiful 
as  was  Pocahontas  herself/'  Often 
had  he  told  La  Guerita  the  tale 
that  for  five  generations  had  been 
cherished  in  his  family  ;  how  that  a 
warrior  of  their  name  had  saved  an 
Indian  girl  from  death,  and  after- 
wards married  her.  It  was  a  simple 
tale  enough,  yet  La  Guerita  had  often 
listened  to  it  shudderingly,  feeling 
that  the  speaker  was  gaining  from  it 
a  rule  and  guide  for  his  own  future. 

' '  I  have  been  waiting  for  you  more 
han  an  hour,"  said  the  Carolinian. 
' '  May  I  ask  what  has  so  long  de- 
tained you  on  the  beach  ?  for  there 
they  told  me  you  had  gone.  Surely 
the  wild  scenery  you  have  looked 
upon  daily  for  years  had  not  power 
to  charm  you  thus." 

' '  I  never  weary  of  it, "  she  answer- 
ed simply  ;  ' '  but  it  was  not  that,  that 
detained  me  so  long.  I  was  talking 
to  Fabean  and  Mr.  DeGrey." 

Mr.  Leveredge  smiled  when  he 
heard  that  Fabean  had  been  of  the 
party  ;  for  he  had  feared  that  she  had 
been  alone  with  DeGrey,  in  whom 
he  saw  a  powerful  rival. 

"And  had  you  not  one  thought 
for  me?"  he  queried.  "  Fabean,  at 
least,  knew  I  was  coming.  Did  he 
not  mention  it  to  you  ?" 

"No,  Mr.  Leveredge.  In  the  im- 
portance of  our  conversation,  he, 
probably,  forgot  the  matter  entirely. " 

For  some  moments  Mr.  Leveredge 
regarded  her  silently  and  most  earn- 
estly. Feeling  the  constraint  of  his 


manner  most  keenly,  she  arose  and 
somewhat  confusedly  plead  an  en- 
gagement, and  attempted  to  with- 
draw. 

"You  shall  not  until  you  have 
learned  my  errand  here  !"  exclaimed 
her  visitor,  excitedly.  ' '  I  know  why 
you  shun  me  ;  it  is  because  you  know 
that  you  have  deceived  me. " 

"Deceived  you?  Never!"  cried 
La  Guerita  DeCuba,  in  tones  of  the 
most  palpable  surprise. 

' '  You  have  ;  you  know  that  you 
have,"  retorted  Leveredge,  fiercely. 
' '  Have  you  not  for  years  known  my 
love  for  you  !  When  you  were  an 
infant,  scarcely  able  to  walk  alone,  it 
was  I  who  guided  your  steps  ;  it  was 
I  who  taught  you  to  read  ;  I  was  your 
friend — the  one  your  heart  trusted, 
your  hands  caressed.  I  am  he,  whom, 
years  ago,  you  vowed  you  would  ever 
love. " 

' '  Claude  ! "  There  was  a  world  of 
passionate  reproach,  entreaty,  and 
sorrow  in  that  single  word,  as  La 
Guerita  DeCuba  uttered  it,  looking 
up  with  tearful,  pleading  eyes. 

It  appeared  to  soften  the  hearer's 
wayward  mood,  and  with  a  face  aglow 
with  tenderness  he  approached  and 
took  her  hand.  She  drew  it  from  his 
grasp  ;  but  not  before  he  had  whis- 
pered :  ' '  Dearest,  you  have  not  for- 
gotten ?" 

' '  I  have  forgotten  nothing, "  she 
replied,  in  a  low  voice;  "I  should 
be  glad  if  I  could. " 

"Ah,  La  Guerita!"  he  began; 
' '  do  not  say  that  you  wish  to  forget 
those  days  of  long  ago.  We  were 
both  so  happy  then.  I  so  joyful  if  I 
could  have  the  privilege  of  defending 
you  from  insult  or  danger  ;  and  you 
so  proud  to  be  so  protected.  La 


In  Bonds. 


Guerita,  let  the  memory  of  the  past 
be  with  you  to-night.  Let  Claude 
Leveredge  be  the  hero — the  lover — he 
was  in  those  early  days. " 

"That  is  impossible/'  she  mur- 
mured. ' '  We  have  both  changed  so 
much  since  then. " 

' '  I  have  changed,  La  Guerita, "  he 
admitted,  after  a  moment's  thought ; 
' '  or  rather  my  true  nature  has  per- 
fected and  revealed  itself;  but  what- 
ever changes  have  come  over  me, 
they  have  not  affected  my  love  for 
you.  ° 

She  shuddered,  turning  nervously 
away  to  shun  his  burning  gaze. 

"  You  are  afraid  to  look  at  me," 
he  continued,  excitedly.  ' '  Afraid  to 
look  at  the  man  whom  as  a  boy  you 
loved  and  trusted.  Ah,  La  Guerita 
DeCuba,  when  we  parted,  four  years 
ago,  little  did  I  think  I  should  see 
that  look  upon  your  face  !" 

"Do  not  speak  of  that  time/'  she 
entreated  ;  "I  was  but  a  child  then, 
and  you  had  always  been  kind  to 
me.  I— 

"I  must  speak  of  it !"  he  inter- 
rupted quickly  ;  "I  must  speak  of 
it !  Do  you  not  remember  that,  on 
the  morning  we  parted,  you  promised 
to  be  my  wife?  La  Guerita,  I  am 
here  to  claim  the  fulfillment  of  that 
promise. " 

She  grew  even  paler  than  was  natu- 
ral to  her ;  but  her  eyes  flashed  an- 
grily as  she  returned  scornfully  : 

' '  What  was  that  promise  ?  The 
thoughtless  words  of  a  child  who, 
even  while  she  spoke,  feared  more 
than  she  loved  you. " 

' '  And  why  did  you  fear  me  ?  Had 
I  not  for  years  served  you  !  Had  I 
not  protected  you  from  infancy  ?  O, 
La  Guerita,  have  I  served  seven  years 


by  twice  seven  years  for  my  Rachel 
in  vain  ?" 

By  a  passionate  gesture  she  en- 
treated him  to  say  no  more  ;  but, 
unheeding  the  silent  appeal,  he  con- 
tinued : 

' '  I  would  to  God  I  had  always  re- 
mained with  you  ;  that  I  had  never 
seen  Europe.  You  are  more  to  me 
than  all  the  lands  of  tale  and  song. 
Yet,  while  I  was  wasting  my  precious 
hours  amid  faded  grandeur,  or  that 
which  must  shortly  fade,  you  were 
breaking  the  bonds  I  still  cherished, 
and  forswearing  the  vows  I  daily  re- 
newed. '' 

His  words  seemed  as  daggers  in  the 
heart  of  La  Guerita  DeCuba,'  and  in 
agonized  tones  she  cried  :  ' '  How  can 
you  speak  such  cruel  words?  O, 
Claude,  I  never  deceived  you.  As 
soon  as  I  fully  understood  the  nature 
of  the  engagement  I  had  so  carelessly 
formed,  I  wrote  to  you,  begging  that 
it  might  be  annulled.  O,  Claude  ! 
you  were  kind  and  generous  then  ; 
be  so  now.  You  yielded  to  my 
wishes,  and  said  that  on  your  return 
I  should  be  free  to  follow7  the  dictates 
of  my  own  heart. " 

' '  I  believed  that  your  desire,  earn- 
estly as  it  was  expressed,  was  but  a 
childish  freak  ;  but  you  loved  me, 
and  would  do  so  whether  bound  or 
free.  I  did  not  dream  that  my  inno- 
cent school-girl  would  so  early  have 
learned  the  lessons  of  a  finished  co- 
quette !" 

"You  wrong  me!''  ihe  replied, 
hastily  ;  "I  had  not  even  seen  Har- 
old then." 

The  blood  rushed  to  the  dark 
cheeks  of  Claude  Leveredge  as  he 
approached  a  step  nearer  the  young 
girl. 


In    Bonds. 


"What,  then!"  ne  exclaimed, 
"you  dare  even  to  tell  me  that  you 
love  Harold  DeGrey?" 

"Yes  !"  she  returned  calmly,  meet- 
ing unflinchingly  his  fiery  gaze  ;  "I 
love  him  even  as  he  loves  me.  I  am 
to  be  his  wife  !" 

CHAPTER  III. 

"  Didst  thou  but  know,  as  I  do, 
The  pangs  and  tortures  of  a  slighted  love, 
Thou  wouldst  not  wonder  at  this  sudden  change  ; 
For  when  ill-treated,  it  turns  all  to  hate, 
And  the  then  darling  of  our  soul's  revenge.'' 

Poicell. 

TERRIBLE  was  the  effect  of  this  an- 
nouncement upon  Claude  Leveredge. 
La  Guerita  was  amazed  and  startled 
as  she  saw  him  turn  the  ghastly  hue 
of  death.  His  eye-sight  seemed  to 
fail  him,  and  he  sought  a  chair,  with 
the  slow,  painful  motion  of  one  sud- 
denly bereft  of  sight. 

She  thought  of  him  then  as  he  had 
been  during  the  years  he  had  passed 
at  Fairview.  Always  impulsive  and 
ungovernable  in  temper,  he  had  been 
a  very  Goliath  among  the  scholars  ; 
feared  and  disliked  by  all,  save  La 
Guerita  DeCuba,  whose  champion  he 
had  declared  himself  on  the  first  day 
of  his  residence  at  Fairview.  She  had 
regarded  him  with  a  mixture  of  love 
and  awe  for  many  years,  and  when 
they  were  about  to  part  felt  that  her 
best  friend  and  protector  was  leaving 
her;  and  so,  amid  sobs  and  tears, 
she  yielded  to  his  entreaties,  and 
promised  to  become  his  wife. 

She  soon  discovered  the  deep  sig- 
nificance of  her  words.  His  letters 
were  full  of  exacting,  jealous  love, 
terrifying  her  by  its  very  earnestness. 
The  chains  he  threw  around  her  soon 
became  to  her  too  galling  to  bear. 
She  was  but  a  slave  in  his  hand  ;  for 


although  three  thousand  miles  of 
ocean  lay  between  them,  he  still  ruled 
almost  as  completely  as  before.  From 
her  childhood  she  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  regard  his  frown  as  the  most 
terrible  of  all  calamities,  and  though 
long  parted  she  could  not  forget  her 
champion — her  dauntless  hero.  Still 
he  was  to  her  the  realization  of  her 
ideal  of  manly  power  and  beauty, 
when  his  sudden  return  to  Fairview 
dispelled  the  illusion  that  had  for 
years  deceived  her. 

With  a  fainting  heart  she  saw  that 
the  independent  boy  had  become 
a  domineering  churl ;  the  fearless 
champion  had  developed  into  a  duel- 
ist, with  the  blood  of  an  innocent 
youth  upon  his  hand.  Reports  of 
his  reckless  career  followed  fast  upon 
him,  and  it  was  with  loathing  that 
La  Guerita  put  away  from  her  the 
love  that  had  once  been  her  joy  and 
hope. 

For  years  he  had  been  to  her  the 
noblest  type  of  manhood  ;  but  her 
idol  was  broken  ;  its  hollowness  be- 
trayed. Dissipation  had  left  deep 
traces  upon  his  countenance,  and  the 
restless  workings  of  his  excitable 
mind  distressed  and  repelled  her. 
She  had  believed  him  strong  in  mind 
and  principles  ;  but  he  had  proved  too 
weak  to  resist  temptations,  which  or- 
dinary men,  with  whom  she  had 
once  seemed  to  compare  him,  would 
have  passed  lightly  by.  He  had  fal- 
len where  the  frailest  of  his  race  had 
stood  unflinchingly. 

It  was  not  until  this  failure  of  a 
glorious  promise  stood  before  her, 
and  plead  for  the  love  she  had  given 
his  youth,  that  La  Guerita  DeCuba 
fully  realized  the  worth  of  Harold 
DeGrey.  The  comparisons  she  in- 


In  Bonds. 


voluntarily  made  between  the  two  left 
her  no  room  to  doubt  which  was  the 
better  man,  or  which  she  loved. 
With  the  threats  and  wild  entreaties 
of  a  maniac,  Claude  Leveredge  met 
her  assurance  that  she  would  never 
renew  the  vows,  happily  broken  three 
years  before ;  and  now,  a  month 
later,  he  had  returned  in  a  calmer 
mood  to  bid  her  reconsider  her 
words. 

When  she  said  she  was  to  be  the 
wife  of  Harold  DeGrey,  he  fully  real- 
ized her  feelings  toward  him.  He 
was  assured  that  if  even  a  particle  of 
her  childish  love  had  remained  in 
her  heart,  to  trouble  and  perplex  her, 
she  would  never  have  engaged  to 
marry  another.  He  knew  that  he 
had  fallen  irrevocably  in  her  estima- 
tion, and  not  even  the  self-esteem 
which  had  hitherto  sustained  him 
could  whisper  one  assurance  of  suc- 
cess in  the  task  to  which  he  had  ap- 
plied himself. 

' '  La  Guerita  DeCuba, "  he  said  at 
length,  ' '  you  know  not  what  you  are 
doing.  I  shudder  when  I  think  of 
your  future  and  mine !  Can  you 
hope  for  happiness?" 

"Yes!"  she  replied,  but  very 
faintly.  ' '  Do  not  look  at  me  so,  I 
pray.  You  know  I  am  alone  in  the 
world  ;  my  husband  will  be  my  all, 
and  I  must  choose  one  worthy  of  my 
entire  confidence  and  love. " 

"And  you  conceive  Harold  De- 
Grey  alone  to  be  the  faultless  being 
fitted  to  be  your  protector  and  guide  ?" 
said  Leveredge,  in  tones  of  suppress- 
ed passion.  "He  is  richer  than  I, 
perhaps,  and  with  him  the  play  of 
King  Cophetua  and  the  beggar  girl 
may  be  rmore  perfectly  enacted.  " 

La    Guerita   turned   toward    him, 


her  slender  figure  and  pale,  expres- 
sive face  quivering  with  anger  and 
wounded  pride,  exclaiming:  "He 
will  at  least  protect  me  from  your  in- 
sults !" 

Leveredge  threw  himself  before 
her,  as  she  turned  to  leave  the  room, 
and  cried  :  "La  Guerita  DeCuba,  be 
warned  !  Harold  DeGrey  comes  of 
a  proud  race  ;  he  loves  you  ;  but  do 
you  suppose  he  would  marry  you  if 
he  believed  you  to  be  the  offspring  of 
shame  ?  No,  never !  But  I,  La 
Guerita,  were  I  a  king,  would  take 
you  from  the  very  depths  of  degrada- 
tion to  make  you  queen. " 

' '  Let  me  go, "  pleaded  La  Guerita. 
' '  Say  no  more  ;  my  resolve  is  taken, 
and  no  earthly  power  can  change  it. " 

"Then  you  persist  in  your  refusal 
to  be  my  wife  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  low 
voice,  his  accents  thrilling  with  sup- 
pressed emotion. 

"  I  shall  marry  Harold  DeGrey," 
she  said  firmly. 

He  drew  back  from  her,  holding 
out  his  right  hand  and  saying,  with 
terrible  and  startling  emphasis  r '  'That 
hand,  in  a  foolish,  boyish  quarrel, 
drew  life-blood  once,  La  Guerita  De- 
Cuba,  and  it  shall  yet  draw  your 
heart's  bitterest  tears.  I  am  not  one 
to  utter  meaningless  threats,  and, 
remember,  as  surely  as  there  is  a  God 
above  us,  you  shall  have  bitter  cause 
to  rue  the  hour  in  which  you  have 
slighted  and  scorned  Claude  Lever- 
edge.  Ah  !"  he  continued,  solemnly 
and  with  strange  pathos,  ' '  you  would 
have  been  safe  as  my  wife.  No  evil 
should  have  reached  you  ;  but  now 
let  it  come  ;  let  it  fall ;  let  it  crush  / 

" '  Thou  shall  love,  and  that  love  shall  be  thy  curse ; 
Thou  wilt  need  no  heavier;  thou  shalt  feel  no  worse. 
I  see  the  cloud  and  the  tempest  near; 
The  voice  of  the  troubled  tide  I  hear  ; 


i6 


In  Bonds. 


The  torrent  of  sorrow — the  sea  of  grief— 

The  rushing  waves  of  a  wretched  life; 

Thy  bosom's  bark  on  the  surge  I  see, 

And,  maiden,  no  loved  one  is  there  with  thee.'  " 

She  raised  her  head  with  an  im- 
ploring gesture,  crying  :  ' '  You  threat- 
en Harold  !  If  your  vengeance  must 
fall  let  it  be  upon  me.  Spare  him  !" 

' '  I  will  spare  neither, "  he  said 
sternly.  ' '  Ah,  you  need  not  fear  me 
now  !"  he  continued,  as  she  shrank 
in  alarm  from  his  outstretched  hand. 
"See,  I  could  rob  my  rival  of  his 
bride  by  one  turn  of  this  strong  arm  ; 
but  you  are  safe ;  my  revenge  shall  be 
even  deeper  and  sweeter  than  that !" 

In  his  excitement  he  appeared  to 
become  quite  oblivious  of  her  pres- 
ence. Turning  from  her,  he  slowly 
paced  the  length  of  the  room,  mut- 
tering, almost  incoherently  :  "My 
first  task  shall  be  to  discover  the  pa- 
rentage of  La  Guerita  DeCuba  ;  my 
next,  to  blast  her  happiness,  whatever 

may  be  her  origin  !  You "  he 

turned  towards  the  spot  where  La 
Guerita  had  stood  ;  but  she  was  no 
longer  there.  Seizing  the  opportu- 
nity when  he  had  turned  his  back 
upon  her,  she  had  crept  silently  from 
the  room,  and  swiftly  sought  the  shel- 
ter of  her  own  apartment. 

She  stood  for  a  few  seconds  in  the 
center  of  the  room,  with  her  hands 
clasped  over  her  heart,  to  stay  its  loud 
throbbings,  while  she  eagerly  listened 
for  sounds  from  below.  Soon  she 
heard  the  hall  door  open  ;  then  close 
with  a  sudden  clang.  Going,  softly 
still  and  under  the  spell  of  fear,  to 
her  window,  she  saw  Claude  Lever- 
edge  descend  the  steps,  pause  for  a 
moment,  as  if  uncertain  what  course 
to  pursue,  and  then  walk  hurriedly 
across  the  lawn  to  the  water's  edge. 
There  he  was  soon  joined  by  Fabean  ; 


and  after  a  few  moments  conversation 
the  two  stepped  into  a  small  boat,  and 
rowed  slowly  out  of  sight. 

An  hour  later  she  received  word 
that  her  brother  wished  to  see  her. 
After  washing  her  flushed  cheeks — 
for  she  had  been  weeping  long  and 
bitterly — she  went  down  to  the  library, 
where  she  found  him  sitting  near  the 
table,  with  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands. 

He  looked  up  as  she  approached, 
and  said  :  "I  have  just  left  Lever- 
edge." 

' '  I  know  it, "  she  replied  ;  "I  saw 
you  enter  the  boat  together.  Had 
you  an  appointment  with  him  ?" 

1 '  No.  You  know  I  am  often  on 
the  dock  on  such  bright  nights  as 
this.  Leveredge  knew  my  haunt, 
and  sought  me  there.  La  Guerita, 
you  will  pardon  me  if  I  speak  to  you 
plainly.  Are  you  quite  sure  that  you 
have  done  right  ?'' 

"Yes,  Fabean;  quite  sure.  But 
did  he  send  you  here  to  question 
me  ?" 

"  Did  he  send  me  ?"  returned  Fa- 
bean  ;  "No;  I  came  because  I 
wanted  to  see  you  in  your  new  char- 
acter of  heart-breaker.  No,  La  Gue- 
rita, "  he  added,  with  sudden  serious- 
ness ;  ' '  Claude  Leveredge's  last 
words  of  love  or  entreaty  have  been 
spoken/'  He  arose  and  threw  his 
arms  tenderly  around  her.  ' '  You 
have  awakened  a  demon,  my  darl- 
ing, that  will  never  sleep.  I  know 
you  love  DeGrey.  I,  myself,  honor 
and  revere  him  ;  but  I  ask  you  again, 
my  sister,  have  you  done  right  in  dis- 
carding Leveredge  ?" 

"You  have  never  loved,  or  you 
would  not  ask  me,"  she  replied,  in 
low,  thrilling  tones. 


In  Bonds. 


' '  After  all  our  uncle  may  be  able 
to  conciliate  Claude,  by  awarding  him 
the  hand  of  another  niece, "  said  Fa- 
bean  ;  "he  may  have  a  dozen  in 
obscurity  for  all  we  know. "  . 

"Fabean,  I  beg  of  you  not  to 
speak  of  our  unknown  supporter  in 
that  manner,  or  by  that  title !"  she 
exclaimed,  with  some  irritation  in 
her  voice  and  gesture ;  "it  is,  in- 
deed, very  ridiculous.  " 

' '  Ridiculous  or  not,  I  believe  it 
to  be  the  correct  title  to  apply  to 
him,"  persisted  Fabean.  "Well, 
well,  my  dear,  it  matters  little  who 
we  are ;  I  will  gain  a  name  for  us 
both.  Ah,  I  forgot ;  you  are  to 
take  that  of  DeGrey,  and  will  need 
no  other." 

La  Guerita  blushed,  standing  pen- 
sively before  her  brother  for  a  few 
moments,  then  suddenly  looking  up, 
with  a  startled  expression,  saying,  in 
a  low  voice  :  "  O,  Fabean,  I  wish  we 
had  even  a  name.  I  am  terrified  when 
I  think  I  have  not  even  that  to  give  in 
exchange  for  all  Harold  will  bestow 
upon  me.  I  look  with  trembling, 
even  though  with  joy,  into  this  new 
life  upon  which  I  am  about  to  enter. " 

"You  should  look  into  nothing 
more  than  a  well-filled  tea-cup  to- 
night," interrupted  Fabean,  assum- 
ing his  usual  gaiety  of  manner, 
' '  and  that  you  shall  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  in  a  few  minutes  ;  so 
go  to  your  room,  and  I'll  order  a  cup 
of  tea  to  be  taken  to  you  ;  you  need 
it  to  steady  your  nerves,  which  are 
like  the  chords  of  an  eighteenth-cen- 
tury piano — all  out  of  tune. " 

La   Guerita   gladly  accepted   this 

hint  to  retire,  and  as  she  ascended 

the  stairs  to  her  apartment,  she  heard 

Fabean    whistling    gaily,    as   if    no 

3 


thought  of  care  had  ever  entered  his 
mind,  and  as  though  the  future  lay 
as  clear  before  him  as  the  bright 
moonlight  in  which  he  stood. 

"  It  is  well  that  he  can  be  so  light- 
hearted,  "  she  murmured  ;  ' '  Ah, 
would  that  I  could  be  the  same  ;  but 
the  thought  of  trouble  perplexes  and 
saddens  me,  and  the  reality  might 
madden  !" 

CHAPTER  IV. 

"  An    image   was   before  mine   eyes ;    there   was 

silence,  and  I  heard  a  voice." 

Job. 

A  WEEK  later  La  Guerita  DeCuba 
visited,  for  the  first  time,  the  home  of 
her  future  husband.  Invited  thither 
by  his  mother,  she  went  with  fear  and 
trembling,  knowing  well  that  the 
proud  lady  had  given  but  a  reluctant 
consent  to  her  son's  marriage,  and 
that  she  bitterly  deplored  the  sacrifice 
she  believed  him  to  be  making. 

But  Mrs.  DeGrey,  though  exceed- 
ingly proud,  was  duly  appreciative  of 
beauty  and  refinement,  and  was 
pleased  to  discover  both  in  La  Gue- 
rita, and  before  the  close  of  the  first 
day's  acquaintance  had  decided  that 
her  son's  choice  was  not  to  be  won- 
dered at,  and  but  for  the  mystery  of 
her  birth  would  have  been  a  most 
fortunate  one. 

With  these  sentiments  rapidly  clear- 
ing away  her  chagrin,  Mrs.  DeGrey 
strove  by  every  means  in  her  power 
to  interest  and  please  her  young 
guest.  No  difficult  task,  for  even  the 
richness  and  beauty  of  her  surround- 
ings charmed  the  untutored  mind  of 
La  Guerita,  while  she  could  not  but 
be  entertained  by  the  unrestrained 
conversation  of  Mrs.  DeGrey  and 
her  lover. 


i8 


In  Bonds. 


In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  he 
left  the  ladies  to  themselves,  probably 
with  the  design  of  removing  all  res- 
trictions from  their  intercourse,  and 
that  each  might  have  the  opportunity 
of  judging  the  private  character  of 
the  other.  As  the  afternoon  was 
warm,  Mrs.  DeGrey  proposed  that 
they  should  spend  an  hour  in  the 
garden ;  and  they,  accordingly,  pro- 
ceeded thither.  After  walking  for 
some  time  they  entered  an  arbor, 
where  Mrs.  DeGrey  left  La  Guerita, 
and  went  back  to  the  house  to  give 
an  order  she  had  forgotten.  Scarcely 
had  she  disappeared  from  view,  when 
a  shadow  fell  athwart  the  greensward 
that  carpeted  the  bower.  La  Guerita 
looked  up  with  a  welcoming  smile, 
expecting  to  see  Harold  DeGrey. 
To  her  surprise  her  gaze  encountered 
that  of  a  strange  gentleman,  who  was 
standing  rigidly  erect  in  the  entrance. 

Her  first  impulse  was  to  scream  ; 
but  a  second  glance  at  the  cause  of 
her  alarm  silenced  her.  ' '  Doubt- 
less, "  thought  she,  "he  is  an  unfor- 
tunate friend  of  Mrs.  DeGrey,  accus- 
tomed to  seek  her  here." 

His  appearance  was  prepossessing. 
He  was  middle-aged,  tall,  and  hand- 
some, with  the  air  of  a  gentleman 
unmistakably  about  him.  He  at- 
tempted no  apology  for  his  intrusion, 
but  gazed  upon  La  Guerita  with  an 
intensity  that  both  alarmed  and  dis- 
pleased her. 

"Do  you  wish  to  see  Mrs  De- 
Grey?"  she  faltered,  rising  hastily, 
and  contemplating  immediate  flight. 

"Poor  Dolores!  poor  Dolores!" 
sighed  the  intruder. 

Eyes  so  like  Fabean's  that  they 
thrilled  her  to  the  heart,  were  look- 
ing wildly  upon  her,  and  thoroughly 


frightened,  and  with  a  feeling  of  cer- 
tainty that  the  stranger  was  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  mystery  of 
her  life,  La  Guerita  cried,  in  great 
agitation.:  "Who  are  you?  What 
do  you  wish  with  me  ?" 

For  an  instant  she  was  struggling 
in  his  arms.  Passionate  kisses  wrere 
rained  upon  her  cheeks  and  brow. 
She  uttered  a  piercing  shriek,  when, 
suddenly  releasing  her,  the  bold  in- 
truder rushed  from  the  arbor,  and 
dashing  into  a  clump  of  shrubbery, 
was  immediately  lost  to  sight. 

Alarmed  at  hearing  the  shriek,  De- 
Grey,  who  was  approaching  the  ar- 
bor, hastened  on,  and  to  his  surprise 
and  dismay  found  La  Guerita,  almost 
fainting  from  alarm,  standing  near 
the  entrance  to  the  arbor,  looking 
wildly  around  her. 

' '  My  darling,  what  has  frightened 
you  ?"  he  exclaimed,  springing  to  her 
side,  and  throwing  his  arms  around 
her. 

She  clung  to  him  with  all  the  en- 
ergy of  fear  and  love,  but  for  some 
moments  could  not  sufficiently  sub- 
due her  agitation  to  speak. 

Mrs.  DeGrey  had  now  appeared 
and,  much  alarmed,  demanded  what 
had  happened.  ' '  And  what  is  this  ?" 
she  added,  suddenly  placing  her  hand 
upon  the  bosom  of  La  Guerita. 

With  increased  surprise  the  young 
girl  beheld  a  magnificent  gold  chain 
which  was  about  her  neck,  and  from 
which  depended  a  diamond  cross  of 
great  value  and  beauty. 

' '  He  must  have  put  it  there  I"  she 
exclaimed,  in  bewilderment.  ' '  O, 
who  can  he  be  ?" 

"He!  Whom  do  you  mean?" 
cried  DeGrey  and  his  mother  simul- 
taneously. 


In  Bonds. 


19 


With  as  much  coherence  as  her 
agitation  would  admit  of,  La  Guerita 
related  her  startling  adventures,  elic- 
ing  from  Mrs.  DeGrey  many  excla- 
mations of  surprise  and  dignified 
anger,  and  casting  a  heavy  frown 
upon  the  face  of  her  more  phleg- 
matic son. 

' '  It  would  be  no  use  for  us  to  do 
so, "  said  Harold,  in  answer  to  a  sug- 
gestion from  Mrs.  DeGrey  that  they 
should  make  a  search  of  the  grounds  ; 
"no  doubt  the  man  is  far  enough 
away  by  this  time.  Let  us  examine 
the  cross ;  there  may  be  something 
upon  that  to  lead  to  his  discovery. " 

It  was  accordingly  inspected  closely 
by  Mrs.  DeGrey  and  Harold,  but  no 
cipher  or  initial  could  be  discovered. 
The  size  and  brilliancy  of  the  dia- 
monds called  forth  many  exclama- 
tions from  the  lady,  who  could  not 
refrain  from  whispering  to  her  son 
that  she  hoped  the  cross  was  but  ' '  a 
sample  of  what  the  wedding  gifts 
would  be." 

But  he  was  in  no  mood  for  such 
thoughts,  and  through  the  rest  of  the 
afternoon,  though  he  endeavored  to 
appear  as  usual  before  La  Guerita, 
was  both  silent  and  thoughtful. 

La  Guerita  was  the  same,  and  after 
bidding  farewell  to  Mrs.  DeGrey, 
whose  admiration  for  her  future 
daughter-in-law  was  most  flatteringly 
apparent,  she  lapsed  into  a  profound 
reverie,  which  lasted  until  the  car- 
riage stopped  before  the  door  of  the 
Fairview  Academy,  and  Fabean  has- 
tened forth  to  meet  her ;  then  she 
cried,  eagerly  : 

"O,  Fabean!  Fabean!  I  have 
seen  our  father  to-day  !" 

He  uttered  an  exclamation,  more 
expressive  of  joy  than  surprise,  and 


cried  :  ' '  And  I,  La  Guerita,  have 
seen  our  uncle  !" 

Professor  Harland,  who  was  stand- 
ing near,  turned  toward  them  in 
sudden  and  great  agitation,  begging 
them  to  say  no  more  there,  but  to 
follow  him  to  the  house.  They  did 
so,  and  were  immediately  ushered 
into  his  private  study. 

' '  What  do  you  mean,  La  Guerita, 
by  saying  you  have  seen  your  father  ?" 
he  asked,  when  he  had  closed  and 
locked  the  door,  the  better  to  pre- 
vent intrusion. 

"Ask  Fabean  about  it,"  she  re- 
turned, feeling  quite  unable  to  ex- 
plain herself  clearly,  having  scarcely 
recovered  from  the  first  shock  her 
brother's  words  had  given  her.  ' '  Fa- 
bean,  when  did  you  see  him  ?" 

"Quite  early  this  morning,"  he 
replied  ;  "or,  at  least,  just  after  you 
left  for  Greymont.  I  was  sitting  un- 
der the  great  willow,  at  the  end  of  the 
lawn,  considering  the  important  ques- 
tion :  '  To  be,  or  not  to  be, '  in  rela- 
tion to  a  perfect  Greek  lesson,  when 
a  gentleman — quite  a  fine  looking 
one,  too — walked  up  to  me  and  said, 
most  confidently  :  '  You  are  Fabean 
DeCuba. '  '  Indeed  ! '  said  I,  in  a 
tone  of  great  interest,  '  I  am  happy  to 
learn  that  that  is  an  established  fact. ' 

' '  He  seemed  amused,  or  rather,  I 
should  say,  he  looked  like  one  that 
tried  to  be  amused  ;  then  he  looked 
at  me  very  closely,  and  said  some- 
thing about  the  fineness  of  the  day 
and  the  clearness  of  the  water,  ad- 
mired my  boat,  and  finally  hinted 
that  he  should  like  to  try  her  quality, 
as  he  had  been  quite  a  sailor  in  his 
youth,  and  had  by  no  means  lost  all 
his  interest  in  a  fine  boat. 

"Upon  that,    I   proposed  to  row 


20 


In  Bonds. 


him  a  short  distance  in  mine,  as  I 
well  knew  there  was  not  a  better  boat 
on  the  coast.  He  accepted  my  invi- 
tation very  readily,  and  we  were  soon 
on  our  way  toward  Ellisville.  So 
interesting  was  our  conversation,  that 
I  shot  by  that  place  without  thinking 
of  stopping ;  and  I  might  still  be 
rowing  about  the  bay,  answering  his 
questions,  which,  I  now  remember, 
related  almost  entirely  to  family  mat- 
ters, had  he  not,  to  my  great  surprise, 
asked  me  to  land  him  at  a  point 
nearly  two  miles  below  Ellisville. 
When  I  had  done  so  he  said,  '  I 
have  been  here  several  times  before, 
but  I  am  a  little  at  fault  now.  Can 
you  tell  me  how  far  it  is  to  Gr'ey- 
mont  ?' 

' '  I  was  so  surprised  at  the  ques- 
tion that  I  did  not  think  of  answer- 
ing it  until  it  was  repeated  ;  then  I 
said  it  was  about  a  mile,  though  I 
think  now  that  it  was  at  least  three. 

' '  '  Thank  you, '  he  said  ;  '  and 
does  the  road  lie  over  that  hill  ?  Ah, 
yes,  of  course  it  does.  Are  you  go- 
ing back  to  Fairview  immediately  ? 

"  'Are  you  going  to  Greymont  ?' 
I  replied,  giving  question  for  ques- 
tion. ' 

1 '  '  Yes, '  he  answered,  '  and  be  as- 
sured that  the  hour  spent  in  forward- 
ing me  on  my  way  shall  not  prove 
an  unprofitable  one  to  you. ' 

' '  I  was  surprised  and  indignant. 
The  first,  that  he  should  have  cajoled 
and  deceived  me  into  rendering  him 
a  service,  when  I  would  have  done  so 
had  he  simply  asked  me ;  and  the 
second,  that  he  should  dare  speak  of 
reward,  as  if  I  had  been  a  common 
ferryman.  But  before  I  could  utter 
a  word  he  wrung  my  hand  fervently 
and  leapt  ashore.  I  watched  him 


for  some  moments  ;  I  had  some 
thoughts  of  leaving  the  boat  and  fol- 
lowing him,  when  he  looked  back, 
with  an  expression  upon  his  face, 
such  as  has  haunted  my  dreams  for 
years.  I  shall  never  forget  it !  I  had 
seen  it  before — long,  long  ago  !  It 
filled  my  mind  with  faint  visions — 
my  senses  with  faint  odors.  I  saw,  as 
through  a  vail,  the  face  of  a  beautiful 
woman,  dark  and  queenly.  I  think 
she  wore  upon  her  head  a  crown,  or 
tiara  ;  there  was  something — I  can- 
not tell  what ;  I  was  in  a  garden  full 
of  flowers,  and  in  the  distance  stood 
a  white  cottage,  embowered  in  vines. 
Nothing  came  before  me  distinctly — 
all  was  vague,  intangible,  dreamy  ! 
There  were  lights  and  shadows  in 
strange  confusion  ;  there  were  strains 
of  melody  from  soft  voices,  and  en- 
woven  with  them  all  a  moan — a 
heart-broken  moan — which  I  know 
in  reality  once  sounded  in  my  ears  ! 
Ah,  that  dreadful  moan  !  As  it  swell- 
ed upon  my  ears  I  shuddered,  as  with 
an  ague,  feeling  as  if  the  dead  past 
had  arisen  before  me  !'" 

Never  had  La  Guerita  seen  her 
brother  so  greatly  moved  ;  he  clasped 
his  brow  with  one  hand,  as  if  to  col- 
lect his  strange,  wandering  thoughts, 
while  the  other,  which  she  held,  was 
damp  and  cold  as  marble  ;  his  face 
was  very  pale,  and  he  trembled  vio- 
lently. She  knew  that  strange  visions 
—  faint  memories — were  haunting 
him  like  grim 'specters,  in  their  weird 
and  fanciful  indistinctness. 

"Strange  !  very  strange  !"  mutter- 
ed Professor  Harland,  "if— if  that 
person  has  been  here,  that  he  has  not 
visited  me  !" 

"  Oh,  I  forgot  to  mention  my  re- 
ward, "  said  Fabean,  awakened  from 


In  Bonds. 


21 


his  reverie  by  some  question  from 
DeGrey.  "About  ten  minutes  be- 
fore your  arrival  a  negro  man  came 
here,  leading  a  fine  bay  horse,  with 
a  handsome  saddle  and  bridle  upon 
him,  and  delivered  him  to  the  groom, 
saying  '  it  was  for  Fabean  DeCuba, 
from  the  gentleman  he  rowed  to 
Ellisville  in  his  boat  this  morning.' 
John  was  too  much  astonished  to  ap- 
prise me  of  my  good  fortune  until 
the  negro,  whom  he  declares  to  be  a 
stranger  in  the  neighborhood,  had 
disappeared.  Friends,  what  are  we 
to  think  ?  Are  these  gifts  the  effects 
of  love,  or  of  an  uneasy  conscience  ?" 

He  looked  around  for  an  answer, 
but  none  spoke  ;  all  were  agitating 
his  question  in  their  hearts. 

Some  powerful,  but  undefinable, 
emotion  induced  Harold  DeGrey  to 
exclaim  :  ' '  Professor  Harland,  I  can 
endure  no  delay ;  La  Guerita  must 
immediately  become  my  wife.  La 
Guerita,  remember,  whatever  hap- 
pens, whoever  you  may  be,  you  are 
to  be  my  wife  !" 

"God  bless  you,  DeGrey  !"  cried 
Fabean,  clasping  his  hand  ;  ' '  God 
bless  you,  for  now  I  know  you  love 
her!" 

But  La  Guerita  passed  from  the 
room  without  uttering  a  word,  and, 
hastening  to  her  room,  cast  herself 
upon  her  knees,  and  prayed  with 
streaming  tears  that  the  great  mystery 
of  her  life  might  be  explained.  Thus 
the  night  hours  wore  away,  and  the 
gray  dawn,  peeping  in  at  her  win- 
dow, found  her  wan  and  haggard 
from  her  weary  vigil,  and  revealed 
Fabean  upon  the  lawn,  trying  his 
new  horse,  and  gaily  proclaiming 
him  a  beauty. 

It  was  many  days  before  La  Gue- 


rita could  entirely  throw  off  her  sad- 
ness ;  then  she  was  shown  a  letter, 
signed  DeCuba,  which  had  reached 
them  through  an  agent  in  Philadel- 
phia, which  not  only  approved  of  her 
marriage  with  DeGrey,  but  contained 
a  check  sufficiently  large  to  procure 
a  complete  and  elegant  trousseau. 

In  preparations  for  her  bridal,  La 
Guerita  DeCuba  for  a  time  forgot  her 
cares,  and  in  the  increasing  warmth 
of  Harold's  love  felt  no  shadow  of 
despondency  or  gloom. 

CHAPTER  V. 

"  Hear  the  mellow  wedding  bells — 
Golden  bells!" 

WITH  all  the  beauty  of  the  summer, 
increased  by  a  gorgeous  tinting  of  its 
own,  the  first  month  of  autumn  had 
come.  It  was  hailed  with  unclouded 
joy  by  Harold  DeGrey,  and  with 
fearful,  trembling  happiness  by  La 
Guerita  DeCuba,  for  in  the  tenth  day 
of  its  pilgrimage  they  were  to  be 
united. 

The  sun  that  shone  upon  the  mar- 
riage day  had  never  smiled  on  one 
more  fair  and  beautiful.  The  sky 
was  cloudless,  and  the  cool  breezes 
that  rippled  the  bosom  of  the  bay, 
and  of  the  ocean  that  lay  like  a  lower 
sky  in  the  distance,  made  sweet  mel- 
ody among  the  swaying  trees,  and 
filled  the  air  with  delicious  fragrance 
from  the  autumn  flowers,  that  flaunt- 
ing in  bright  array,  had  succeeded 
the  more  fragile  summer  blossoms. 
Never  over  La  Guerita  had  smiled  a 
clearer  sky,  and  never  had  the  earth 
appeared  so  beautiful ;  still  a  cloud 
hung  over  her  spirit,  a  gloom  cast, 
even  by  that  which  was  to  her  the 
most  pure  and  lovely,  as  shadows 


22 


In  Bonds. 


are  often  thrown  in  clear  waters  by 
graceful  willows  that  beautify  their 
banks.  She  sighed  and  trembled 
when  she  thought  of  the  intensity  of 
Harold's  love,  which  every  day  grew 
more  apparent ;  yet  she  knew  that  the 
world  would  be  utterly  dark  to  her 
were  that  love  removed  from  her. 
Something  of  this  feeling  must  have 
showed  itself  upon  her  countenance 
when  they  stood  before  the  altar,  for 
Harold  whispered  :  "  Darling,  trust 
me." 

Then  the  service  commenced. 
There  were  many  spectators,  for  both 
Harold  and  La  Guerita  were  very 
widely  known.  The  mystery  en- 
shrouding her  had  even  lent  an  addi- 
tional charm  to  the  beauty  and  dig- 
nity of  her  person,  and  the  high 
connection  she  was  about  to  form  was 
universally  regarded  with  pleasure. 
Thus  La  Guerita  DeCuba  found  her- 
self no  friendless  bride  on  the  morn- 
ing that  was  to  behold  her  a  loved 
and  honored  wife. 

Solemnly  the  aged  minister  had 
pronounced  the  opening  passages  of 
the  marriage  service,  had  put  to  De- 
Grey  the  usual  question  and  receiv- 
ed a  ready  answer,  and  turned  to 
La  Guerita  with  the  query  :  "Wilt 
thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wedded 
husband, "  when  Harold  saw  her  be- 
come deadly  pale,  and  tremble  from 
head  to  foot.  She  however  recovered 
from  her  agitation  sufficiently  to  give 
her  answer  in  a  low  but  distinct  voice, 
and  the  ceremony  proceeded  without 
interruption.  Harold  received  his 
bride  from  the  hands  of  Professor 
Harland,  who  with  great  pride  and 
satisfaction  beheld  his  beautiful  pupil, 
his  much-loved  foster  daughter,  unit- 
ed to  the  talented  and  wealthy  DeGrey. 


For  a  few  moments  after  the  con- 
clusion of  the  wedding  ceremony,  a 
joyous  confusion  prevailed,  but  seiz- 
ing her  opportunity  when  her  brother 
approached  to  offer  his  congratula- 
tions, La  Guerita  whispered  to  him  : 

' '  Fabean,  he the  gentleman  who 

frightened  us  so,  is  here.  I  saw  him 
in  one  of  the  side  pews. " 

Hastily  pressing  a  kiss  upon  her 
trembling  lips,  he  bounded  from  her 
side  and  sought  eagerly  among  the 
people  assembled  for  the  stranger  ; 
but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  and 
he  was  obliged,  most  reluctantly,  to 
join  the  wedding  train,  without  having 
caught  even  a  passing  glimpse  of  the 
mysterious  visitant. 

The  wedding  breakfast  was  given 
at  Fairview,  and  a  large  number  of 
distinguished  guests  honored  it  by 
their  presence.  In  the  excitement  of 
the  hour,  La  Guerita  quite  forgot  the 
stranger  until  he  was  brought  to  mind 
by  the  sight  of  the  magnificent  gifts 
he  had  sent  her.  A  large  selection 
of  elegant  jewelry,  diamonds,  eme- 
ralds and  pearls,  bore  testimony  to 
the  greatness  of  his  wealth  and  taste, 
and  fully  realized  the  hopes  of  Mrs. 
DeGrey,  which  were  expressed  in 
the  discovery  of  the  diamond  cross. 
Within  one  of  the  jewel  cases  was 
found  a  draft  upon  one  of  the  Phila- 
delphia banks  "for  .ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, but  as  no  one  in  the  company 
knew  the  exact  sum  for  which  it  was 
drawn,  its  value  was  greatly  magni- 
fied, and  before  the  breakfast  was 
over,  it  had  reached  in  some  active 
minds  to  a  hundred  thousand  dollars 
or  more. 

Delight  and  astonishment  for  a 
moment  rendered  the  young  bride 
speechless,  but  Fabean  exclaimed  : 


In  Bonds. 


' '  Now,  really  this  is  very  handsome 
of  our  respected  relative  !  It  is  a  pity 
that  his  excessive  modesty  prevents 
him  from  receiving  in  person  the 
thanks  he  so  richly  deserves. " 

DeGrey  said  nothing,  but  thought 
' '  How  great  must  be  the  wealth  of 
which  La  Guerita  has  been  defrauded, 
if  this  is  a  mere  tithe  paid  as  a  wed- 
ding gift." 

The  same  reflection  crossed  the 
mind  of  his  lady  mother,  causing  her 
to  regard  her  beautiful  daughter-in- 
law  with  increased  complacency. 

When  most  of  the  guests  were  col- 
lected around  the  table  upon  which 
the  bridal  gifts  were  displayed,  divid- 
ing their  attention  equally  between 
them  and  the  bride  and  groom,  to 
whom  they  had  been  presented,  a 
servant  entered  the  room,  bearing  on 
a  salver  a  small  oblong  case,  which 
he  said  had  been  left  at  the  door  by 
a  colored  sen-ant.  The  initials  of 
La  Guerita  DeCuba  were  engraved 
upon  a  silver  plate  on  the  top  of  the 
box,  and  greatly  wondering  from 
whom  it  came,  she  placed  it  upon 
the  table  before  her,  and  opened  it. 
The  lid  flew  back,  disclosing,  to  her 
horror  and  the  amazement  of  all 
present,  a  small  dagger,  the  blade  of 
the  finest  steel,  and  the  hilt  of  ebony 
inlaid  with  gold. 

La  Guerita  turned  deadly  pale,  and 
for  a  moment  looked  upon  the  gift  as 
an  ill  omen,  knowing  well  that  it 
came  from  Claude  Leveredge,  but 
Harold  DeGrey,  although  somewhat 
startled,  and  greatly  annoyed,  ex- 
claimed with  a  loud  laugh,  ' '  What 
a  beautiful  blade  !  Really  it  will 
make  a  splendid  paper  cutter, "  and 
passed  it  to  one  of  the  astonished 
guests,  commenting  on  its  beauties  as 


if  it  were  indeed  a  harmless  cutter 
instead  of  the  deadly  weapon  it  in 
reality  was. 

That  was  the  only  incident  that  oc- 
curred to  mar  the  joyousness  of  the 
wedding  festivities.  La  Guerita  could 
not  look  upon  it  lightly,  though  Fa- 
bean  and  DeGrey  affected  to  laugh 
at  the  petty  vengefulness  shadowed 
forth  in  Claude  Leveredge's  gift.  It 
was  the  only  article  in  her  house  upon 
which  she  could  not  bear  to  look, 
when,  after  a  short  wedding  tour, 
Harold  took  her  to  the  beautiful  cot- 
tage he  had  prepared  for  her  recep- 
tion. Though  far  less  magnificent 
than  the  mansion  occupied  by  Mrs. 
DeGrey  and  her  son  Victor,  it  was  to 
La  Guerita  the  most  lovely  and  ' '  the 
dearest  spot  on  earth. " 

She  called  it  Enola,  fancifully  trans- 
posing the  word  Alone.  '  *  For,  dear- 
est, "  she  said  to  Harold,  ' '  I  never 
am  so  happy  as  when  alone  with  you 
in  our  own  sweet  home. " 

But  Mrs.  DeGrey  had  determined 
that  her  daughter-in-law  should  not 
be  much  alone,  that  her  light  should 
not  be  hidden  under  the  bushel  of 
domestic  ties,  and  accordingly,  dur- 
ing the  winter  succeeding  her  mar- 
riage, La  Guerita  was  the  belle — the 
life  of  society. 

The  season  was  passed  in  a  round 
of  gaities  of  which,  at  last,  even  La 
Guerita  grew  weary,  and  was  quite  de- 
lighted when  she  heard  that  the  last 
and  most  elegant  party  was  to  be  given 
by  Mrs.  Leslie  of  Ellisville. 

' '  I  hope  after  that,  I  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  pass  a  few  weeks  in  quiet- 
ness with  you, "  she  said  to  her  hus- 
band as  they  entered  Mrs.  Leslie's 
parlors.  Instantly  La  Guerita  be- 
came, as  usual,  the  center  of  attraction, 


In    Bonds. 


and  ere  long  the  crowded  rooms,  the 
music,  the  hundred  flashing  lights, 
and  above  all,  the  deferential  atten- 
tions of  the  most  distinguished  gen- 
tlemen present,  charmed  and  exhila- 
rated her,  and,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  hour  she  soon  lost  all  thoughts 
of  calmer  and  more  precious  mo- 
ments. 

She  had  been  dancing  with  Victor 
DeGrey,  a  fine,  handsome  young 
man  about  twenty  years  old,  and 
upon  resuming  her  seat,  asked  him 
to  bring  her  a  glass  of  water.  He 
left  her,  and  immediately  a  group  of 
gentlemen  and  ladies  formed  around 
her,  and  a  lively  conversation  was 
commenced,  in  the  course  of  which, 
one  said  :  ' '  For  my  part,  I  don't  be- 
lieve there  is  such  a  thing  as  true 
happiness  in  the  world  !" 

'  *  Why,  all  the  people  that  are  here 
to-night  look  happy  enough,  I'm 
sure  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Leslie. 

' '  They  look  so,  I  grant, "  was  the 
reply  ;  ' '  but  should  you  put  to  them, 
severally,  the  question  whether  they 
are  really  so,  I  am  afraid  you  would 
receive  many  answers  in  the  nega- 
tive. " 

' '  I  will  try  a  few, ''  replied  the  lady, 
"such  a  theory  of  yours  is  worth 
looking  into,  although  it  is  such  a 
gloomy  one.  I  will  begin  with  you 
Mrs.  DeGrey,  for  you  have  the  most 
joyous  face  in  the  room  ;  are  not  you 
perfectly  happy  ? " 

La  Guerita  had  been  engaged  in 
conversation  with  Fabean  on  a  matter 
of  some  importance,  and  for  the  last 
few  moments  had  paid  but  little  at- 
tention to  the  remarks  of  those  around 
her.  She  was  a  little  startled  at  Mrs. 
Leslie's  question,  but  answered  readi- 
ly :  "O,  yes,  Mrs.  Leslie,  I  am  quite 


happy ;  there  is  no  shadow  on  my 
path  ! " 

She  looked  up  gaily  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  this  sentence,  and  a  shadow 
fell.  Claude  Leveredge  stood  near 
the  door,  gazing  intently  upon  her. 
He  had  overheard  her  words,  and 
smiled  mockingly. 

Alarmed  at  her  sudden  pallor,  Fa- 
bean  asked  the  cause  of  it. 

She  turned  toward  him,  and  whis- 
pered :  ' '  Claude  Leveredge  is  at  the 
door ; "  but  when  she  looked  again 
he  had  vanished.  Fabean  left  her, 
with  the  intention  of  finding  him,  of 
whom  she  had  spoken,  and  an  instant 
later  Victor  stood  before  her,  with  a 
glass  of  water  in  his  hand. 

"I  am  not  well,"  she  said,  in 
answer  to  his  inquiring  look  ;  "do 
try  to  find  Harold,  and  ask  him  to 
come  to  me. " 

He  left  her,  and  she  became  aware 
that  her  hostess  and  her  friend,  Mrs. 
Ross,  were  speaking  of  her,  in  low, 
confidential  tones. 

' '  No  wonder  that  she  turned  pale, " 
said  the  first ;  "I  have  heard  that  she 
jilted  him  most  shamefully. " 

"Where  has  he  been  for  so  many 
months ? "  queried  Mrs.  Ross ;  "at 
home,  in  North  Carolina  ? " 

' '  No  ;  he  spent  the  fall  and  winter 
months  in  Cuba  ;  he  has  only  been 
here  two  days.  I  met  him  in  the 
street  yesterday,  and  asked  him  to 
come  here  to-night,  but  he  declined 
my  invitation.  I  am  surprised  to  see 
him,  and  still  more  so  that  he  has  not 
paid  his  respects  to  me. " 

He  had  spent  the  winter  in  Cuba  ! 
The  words  rang  in  La  Guerita's  ears, 
and  the  thoughts  excited  by  them 
made  her  sick  and  dizzy.  ' '  Has  he 
discovered  anything?"  was  the  first 


In  Bonds. 


question  that  presented  itself  to  her 
mind,  but  the  answer  :  .  '  '  No  !  "  came 
readily,  for  she  remembered  well  that 
the  expression  upon  his  face  had  been 
that  of  a  tireless  pursuer,  not  of  a 
triumphant  victor. 

She  was  glad  when  Harold,  who 
had  been  much  alarmed  by  Victor's 
account  of  her  disordered  looks, 
came  to  her.  Although  she  had  en- 
tirely recovered  her  color  and  self- 
possession,  she  urged  an  immediate 
return  home,  waiting  only  to  hear 
from  Fabean,  that  Leveredge  had  en- 
tered his  carriage,  and  been  driven 
rapidly  away,  the  moment  after  she 
had  discovered  him. 

Harold  was  much  surprised  and 
annoyed  on  hearing  of  the  strange 
conduct  of  his  former  rival.  To  him 
it  was  incomprehensible,  for  La  Gue- 
rita  had  never  told  him  of  the  terri- 
ble threats  he  had  made  just  before 
her  marriage. 

All,  however,  were,  on  the  follow- 
ing day,  much  pleased  to  learn  that  he 
had  taken  the  cars  for  the  South  with- 
in an  hour  after  leaving  Mrs.  Leslie's. 

Fabean  and  Harold  were  both  cer- 
tain that  he  had  made  no  discoveries, 
at  least,  of  an  unpleasant  nature,  as, 
they  were  well  assured,  he  would  dis- 
close them  ;  and  as  nothing  was  for 
some  time  heard  or  seen  of  him,  he 
soon  passed  from  their  minds.  But 
La  Guerita  often  thought  of  it  with 
terror  and  a  nameless  dread,  feeling 
that  the  trail  of  a  serpent  was  over 
the  flower-gemmed  path  of  her  life. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

"  Vengeance  has  no  foresight." 


FIVE  years   had   La  Guerita  De 
Cuba  been  the  wife  of  Harold  De 
4 


Grey,  before  aught  else  occurred  to 
disturb  the  tranquility  of  her  mind  ; 
and  even  then  it  was  only  a  little 
thing,  .which  only  her  great  love 
and  solicitude  made  of  moment. 
One  winter  evening,,  after  waiting 
long  and  patiently  for  her  husband, 
a  note  had  been  sent  her  from  the 
office,  informing  her  that  Mr.  De- 
Grey  had  received  private  news  of 
great  importance,  and  had  started  for 
Philadelphia  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Nearly  two  weeks  had  passed  since 
then,  without  bringing  her  a  line 
from  the  absent  one,  or  any  news  ot 
his  whereabouts.  La  Guerita  was 
daily  becoming  more  uneasy,  and 
even  the  calm  lawyers,  his  partners, 
openly  commented  upon  his  strange 
absence,  and  spoke  of  making  pub- 
lic inquiries  for  him.  This  his  broth- 
er Victor  strongly  opposed,  saying  : 
' '  He  told  you  when  he  left  that  he 
might  not  be  back  for  a  month,  and 
that  you  might  not  hear  from  him 
within  that  time.  Let  Harold  alone ; 
he  knows  what  he  is  about,  I'll  war- 
rant you. " 

Even  La  Guerita,  when  spoken  to, 
in  effect  gave  the  same  answer,  feel- 
ing assured  it  was  the  investigation  ot 
some  important  business  that  detain- 
ed him  and  kept  him  silent ;  and 
with  almost  overpowering  emotions 
she  surmised  that  the  business  was 
connected  with  the  mystery  of  her 
own  life.  She  dared  not  say  this 
even  to  Victor  DeGrey.  Perhaps  if 
her  brother  Fabean  had  been  near 
she  might  have  gained  relief  for  her 
troubled  heart,  by  unburdening  to 
him  her  fears  ;  but  he  was  far  away. 
The  winter  before,  Harold  DeGrey 
had  suffered  much  from  general  de- 
bility, and  his  physicians,  perceiving 


26 


In   Bonds. 


in  him  signs  of  incipient  consump- 
tion, advised  him  to  spend  the  winter 
in  a  warmer  climate.  For  many  rea- 
sons, Cuba  was  selected  as  their  so- 
journing place,  and  there  Harold 
DeGrey,  his  wife,  and  son,  passed 
three  of  the  happiest  months  of  their 
lives  ;  and  thither  Fabean  soon  went, 
having,  with  his  usual  levity,  resigned 
his  situation  in  the  bank,  and  declar- 
ed his  intention  of  spending  the  ten 
thousand  dollars,  that  had  fallen  to 
his  lot  on  his  twenty-first  birthday,  in 
travel.  This  resolution  had  been  in- 
duced by  letters  from  La  Guerita, 
who  had  described,  in  glowing  col- 
ors, the  projected  tour  of  the  Bur- 
fords,  an  American  family,  who  had 
long  been  residents  in  Havana.  And 
soon  after  Fabean's  arrival  in  Cuba 
the  DeGreys  had  been  greatly  vexed 
to  hear  that  Mr.  Burford  had  begged 
him  to  travel  with  them  as  his  secre- 
tary. Fabean  eagerly  accepted  the 
position,  quieting  all  opposition  by 
the  remark,  that  he  ' '  would  be  see- 
ing the  world  and  obtaining  an  in- 
sight of  business  at  the  same  time. " 
That  was  undeniably  true ;  but 
that  did  not  comfort  his  sister.  Her 
objections  to  the  tour  were  not  cre- 
ated by  thoughts  of  business,  but  by 
the  existence  of  a  young  lady,  the 
eldest  of  the  five  younger  Burfords. 
She  was  a  most  charming  girl — 
young,  beautiful,  refined;  the  one  of 
all  others  La  Guerita  thought  most 
fitted  to  captivate  the  heart  of  her 
brother,  and,  alas !  to  be  captivated 
by  him.  Had  La  Guerita  been  at 
liberty  to  choose  a  wife  for  her  broth- 
er— a  sister  for  herself — Myrta  Bur- 
ford  would  have  been  the  favored 
one  ;  but  Fabean  had  already  chosen 
for  himself,  after  a  six  weeks'  flirta- 


tion ;  and,  to  the  dismay  of  all  his 
friends,  had  engaged  himself  to 
a  mere  boarding-school  Miss — the 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Leslie,  of  Ellis- 
ville. 

Carrie  Leslie  was  a  pretty,  well  ed- 
ucated girl,  of  unexceptionable  fami- 
ly, and  the  sister  of  Thornton  Leslie, 
the  warmest  friend  both  of  Victor  De- 
Grey  and  Fabean  DeCuba.  The 
brother  was  delighted  with  the  match, 
and  both  Victor  and  Harold  thought 
it  excellent ;  but  La  Guerita  looked 
beneath  the  surface,  and  putting  aside 
all  worldly  considerations,  saw  that 
Carrie  Leslie  was  far  too  frivolous  to 
awaken  any  deeper  feeling  than  tran- 
sient admiration  in  the  heart  of  her 
brother. 

She  was  speaking  of  that  to  Victor 
DeGrey,  one  afternoon,  when  he  had 
called  in,  as  usual,  to  say  :  ' '  No  news 
from  Harold  !  "  and  to  have  a  romp 
with  his  little  nephew,  and  to  kiss  the 
delicate  babe,  that  lay  like  a  spotless 
lily  upon  its  mother's  breast.  The 
little  Harold,  he  found,  had  gone  to 
his  grand-mama's,  but  was  shortly 
expected  home  ;  so  he  drew  a  letter 
from  his  pocket,  sank  into  an  easy 
chair,  and  began  reading,  patiently 
awaiting  his  coming.  Two  weeks 
before  he  would  have  hesitated  to 
read  a  long  letter  in  his  sister's  pres- 
ence, conceiving  that  the  act  would 
seem  most  ungracious  to  her ;  but  he 
was  glad  of  any  excuse  to  parry  her 
anxious  inquiries  and  conjectures 
concerning  her  husband,  and  eagerly 
caught  at  an  expression  in  the  letter 
he  was  reading  to  speak  of  her  ab- 
sent brother. 

' '  I  believe,  after  all,  you  were 
right,"  said  he;  "I  don't  believe 
Fabean  ever  did  love  Carrie.  There 


In  Bonds. 


27 


is  not  a  word  in  this  letter  about  her ; 
on  the  contrary,  it  is  full  of  praises 
of  the  incomparable  Miss  Burford. 
I  suppose  he  thinks  himself  privi- 
leged to  speak  of  her  as  an  angel, 
because  he  thinks  she  is  going  to  die 
and  become  one  ;  but  I  don't  think 
Carrie  would  like  it  But  there  is 
one  thing  certain,  she  wouldn't  break 
her  heart  about  it  Have  you  heard 
of  the  flirtation  she  has  had  with 
Loring  ? " 

"I  have  heard  of  a  dozen  flirta- 
tions within  as  many  weeks, "  return- 
ed La  Guerita,  impatiently  ;  ' '  and,  in 
spite  of  your  jokes  about  them,  Vic- 
tor, they  trouble  me  greatly.  One 
love  affair  is  enough  in  any  woman's 
life." 

' '  You  did  not  always  think  so, " 
retorted  Victor,  laughingly.  ' '  What 
do  you  think  I  heard  two  or  three 
days  ago  ?" 

"That  I  had  had  a  dozen  before 
my  marriage  ? " 

"  No  ;  but  that  the  single  one  that 
tormented  you  so  was  coming  from 
France,  to  marry  a  country  cousin, 
to  whom  he  has  been  engaged  for  ten 
years  or  so  ;  a  sort  of  family  arrange- 
ment, I  believe.  Just  imagine  the 
gallant  Claude  giving  up  his  '  Don- 
na Luisas '  and  '  Md'lles  De  St.  Ar- 
mands,'  for  a  country  cousin,  with 
two  or  three  thousand  a  year. " 

' '  I  hope  he  will  be  happy, "  she 
said,  seriously. 

"  So  do  I, "  said  Victor,  laughing 
ironically  ;  "but  I  am  not  going  to 
fret  about  it  if  I  find  he  is  not  I 
wish  that  boy  of  yours  was  come,  it 
is  raining  like  the  mischief.  I  have 
missed  all  the  fine  weather  in  waiting 
for  him,  and  now  I  am  going  home 
the  shortest  way,  for  I  am  quite  sure 


mother  will  not  let  him  come  home 
to-night ;  so  you  needn't  expect 
him." 

"But  I  should  be  so  dreadfully 
lonely  without  him, "  she  urged. 

' '  Nonsense  !  you  have  Altie  ;  she 
will  be  company  enough  for  you, 
with  the  new  novel  I  brought  you 
yesterday  ;  so  good  by  !  " 

She  had  been  but  a  few  minutes 
alone,  when  she  heard  a  carriage  roll 
swiftly  up  the  graveled  paths.  She 
saw,  with  much  satisfaction,  that  it 
was  her  own,  in  which  she  had  sent 
him  to  Mrs.  DeGrey's.  She  turned 
to  summon  a  servant,  when,  to 
her  amazement,  she  beheld  her  old 
friend,  Thornton  Leslie,  spring  from 
the  carriage,  with  her  child  in  his 
arms.  A  moment  later  it  was  in  her 
own,  senseless,  apparently  dead. 

' '  He  has  only  fainted, "  cried 
Thornton  reassuringly  ;  "  it  is  noth- 
ing to  be  alarmed  about.  Bring  him 
to  his  senses,  and  I'll  tell  you  all 
about  it  in  two  minutes. " 

All  other  feelings  were  lost  in  her 
alarm  for  the  boy.  La  Guerita, 
ever  calm  in  an  emergency,  turned 
to  the  servant,  who  had  followed  Les- 
lie into  the  room,  and  bade  him  go 
for  a  doctor  ;  he  did  so,  and  the  wo- 
men servants  came  in,  only  to  be  sent 
away  after  restoratives.  La  Guerita 
would  not  yield  the  child  even  to  his 
nurse,  and  hastily  began  to  disrobe 
him.  A  faint  odor  stole  over  her 
senses,  and,  with  a  scream,  she  re- 
cognized the  peculiar  aroma  of  chlo- 
roform. Around  the  neck  of  the  child 
was  found  a  handkerchief  saturated 
with  the  subtle  fluid.  That  being 
instantly  removed,  and  the  proper 
restoratives  administered,  after  a  few 
anxious  moments  the  child  was  re- 


28 


In  Bonds. 


stored  to  consciousness.  Thornton 
assisted  eagerly  in  the  work,  and 
when  he  saw  the  mother  warming 
her  child's  lips  by  passionate  kisses, 
and  bathing  his  cold  brow  with  her 
hot  tears,  he  said  :  "I  can  safely 
leave  him  now ;  but  I  pray  you, 
Mrs.  DeGrey,  never  let  him  out  of 
your  sight  again. " 

' '  Where  did  you  find  him  ! "  she 
asked  eagerly ;  ' '  was  he  not  with 
his  nurse  ?  The  faithless  creature ; 
I  trusted  her  so  implicitly. " 

"  There  is  no  fault  to  be  found 
with  her, "  returned  Mr.  Leslie.  ' '  I 
was  riding  on  the  road  from  Ellis- 
ville,  and  about  midway  between  this 
and  Mrs.  DeGrey 's  I  passed  your  car- 
riage, in  which  sat  the  nurse,  crying 
out  for  some  one  to  save  the  child, 
and  weeping  and  wringing  her  hands 
frantically,  while  the  coachman  was 
swearing  like  a  madman,  and  trying 
in  vain  to  quiet  the  restive  horses. 

' '  '  What  has  happened  ? '  I  cried. 
Immediately  the  man  recognized  me, 
and  begged  me,  for  God's  sake,  to 
bring  back  your  child  ;  a  gentleman 
had,  a  few  moments  before,  stopped 
the  carriage,  and  saying  that  he  was 
an  old  friend  of  Mrs.  DeGrey 's,  had 
taken  the  child  upon  his  lap,  though 
the  nurse  objected  because  of  the 
rain  ;  had  fondled  and  kissed  him  ; 
then  wheeled  suddenly  into  a  narrow 
path,  that .  leads  through  the  cliffs  to 
the  sea,  bearing  the  frightened  child 
before  him.  I  neede*d  no  urging, 
but  putting  spurs  to  my  horse,  dashed 
in  to  the  narrow  way,  where  it  was 
impossible  for  the  carriage  to  go,  and, 
after  a  few  seconds'  hard  riding,  dis- 
covered a  solitary  horseman  ;  I  even 
saw  the  child  in  his  arms,  and  heard 
his  shrieks  of  fear.  Then  began  the 


most  exciting  race  I  ever  took  part  in. 
Both  were  well  mounted ;  I,  per- 
haps, the  best ;  I  at  least  had  the  ad- 
vantage, in  having  no  struggling 
child  to  manage  ;  I  was  soon  within 
a  few  feet  of '  the  fugitive.  Little 
Harold  saw  me ;  '  Mr.  Ledlie,  he's 
hurtin'  me !  O,  Mr.  Ledlie !  Mr. 
Ledlie  ! ' 

' '  If  I  had  needed  a  fresh  incentive 
to  action,  that  pleading  voice  would 
have  supplied  it,,  though  it  lasted  but 
for  a  moment,  for  the  abductor  threw 
a  handkerchief  over  the  child's  mouth, 
and  wound  it  about  his  neck.  I 
thought  the  child  was  being  murder- 
ed ;  I  recognized  the  villain  that  held 
him,  and,  drawing  a  pistol  from  my 
pocket,  cried  :  '  Release  that  child, 
or  I'll  kill  you  ! ' 

"Mrs.  DeGrey,  that  man  and  I 
were  at  school  together  for  years  ;  he 
knew  that  I  never  uttered  a  threat 
that  was  not  followed  by  action,  and 
that  I  seldom  missed  my  aim,  when 
a  boy,  and  was  not  likely  to  do  so 
now,  when  it  was  taken  in  defense  of 
injured  innocence ;  he  hesitated  for 
a  moment,  then  glancing  at  his  horse, 
seemed  to  comprehend  that  it  could 
not  bear  him  over  the  cliffs  at  a  pace 
to  secure  him  safety  from  my  pistol 
ball,  so,  with  a  fearful  oath,  he  took 
the  child  by  the  skirts,  bent  over,  and 
dropped  him  on  the  road,  and  gal- 
loped off,  swearing  vengeance. 

' '  I  was  rejoiced,  upon  picking  up 
the  boy,  to  find  him  uninjured, 
though  unconscious  ;  I  passed  the 
carriage  on  my  way  here,  but  would 
not  trust  the  child  out  of  my  arms 
until  I  could  place  him  in  yours. " 

For  some  moments  La  Guerita 
could  say  nothing ;  she  clasped  her 
son  convulsively  to  her  bosom,  kiss- 


In  Bonds. 


ing  him  again  and  again.  The  driv- 
er and  nurse,  who  had  by  this  time 
arrived,  noisily  repeated  so  much  as 
they  knew  of  what  Mr.  Leslie  had 
said,  but  their  mistress  scarcely  heard 
them,  and  motioned  them  from  the 
room  ;  turning  to  Mr.  Leslie,  when 
they  were  alone,  with  the  exclama- 
tion :  "  How  can  I  ever  thank  you  ? 
my  heart  is  now  too  full  !  I  can  only 
say,  I  would  rather  see  my  child  in 
his  grave  than  in  the  hands  of  Claude 
Leveredge. " 

Mr.  Leslie  flushed  to  the  temples, 
stammering :  ' '  Mrs.  DeGrey,  I  men- 
tioned no  names  ;  I  would  not  have 
you  suppose  — 

' '  You  need  not  attempt  to  deceive 
me  ! "  she  interrupted  ;  "I  know 
that  Claude  Leveredge,  who  swore, 
when  I  married  Harold,  that  he 
would  make  my  life  miserable,  is 
keeping  his  word.  God  help  me  !" 

"It  is  a  pity  I  didn't  give  him  a 
shot  to-day,"  thought  Leslie;  then 
said  :  "You  need  fear  nothing  in 
future,  Mrs.  DeGrey  ;  Victor  and  I 
will  guard  you  well.  It  is  quite 
providential  that  I  had  that  pistol 
with  me  to-day,  as  I  seldom  carry 
one,  except  when  I  have  a  large  sum 
of  money  with  me.  Your  husband 
has  often  laughed  at  my  scruples. 
By  the  way,  where  is  he  at  present  ? " 

La  Guerita  colored  deeply,  drop- 
ping her  eyes  in  confusion.  ' '  I  can 
scarcely  tell  you,"  she  stammered  ; 
' '  he  departed  so  suddenly  ;  I  wish 
he  were  here  to  thank  you  as  heartily 
as  I  do." 

4 '  So  there's  even  a  skeleton  in  this 
house, "  thought  Leslie  ;  ' '  what  can 
be  the  mystery  ;  and  where  can  De- 
Grey  be  gone  ?  None  seems  to  have 
the  least  idea. 


He  sat  down,  and  took  Harold 
upon  his  knee,  saying  :  ' '  Now,  my 
little  man,  tell  me  what  the  great 
black  fellow  said  that  wanted  to  take 
you  away." 

' '  Oh  !  he  muttered  over  me, "  re- 
turned the  child,  with  a  frightened 
look,  ' '  and  he  held  me  so  tight  that 
the  buttons  of  his  coat  hurt  me ;  and, 
oh  !  he  looked  so  terrjble  ;  just  like 
the  spook  that  nurse  says  carries  off 
the  bad  boy ;  but  I  looked  for  his 
horns,  and  couldn't  see  them  ;  I 
guess  he  draws  them  in,  like  the  ugly 
snails  in  the  garden. " 

' '  And  did  he  say  nothing  to  you  ? " 

"Yes,  he  said  be  still  you  little 
devil,  and  said  ever  so  many  other 
naughty  words  ;  and  said  he  would 
kill  me,  when  I  screamed  out  to 
you. " 

"And  was  that  all!" 

' '  Yes, "  returned  Harold,  ' '  but, " 
suddenly  clapping  his  hand  on  his 
pocket,  with  a  look  of  great  dis- 
may, "he's  tooked  my  new  ball. 
Oh-h-h  ! " 

He  rushed  from  the  room  to  ac- 
quaint his  nurse  with  this  fresh  dis- 
aster. His  mother  for  a  few  mo- 
ments after  he  left  gazed  earnestly 
upon  Mr.  Leslie,  as  if  from  his  frank, 
genial  face,  to  gain  courage  to^put 
into  execution  some  half-formed  re- 
solve. 

"What  is  it,  Mrs.  DeGrey?"  he 
said  at  length,  noticing  her  hesita- 
tion. 

' '  Thornton, "  she  said  gravely, 
' '  we  have  been  friends  for  years  ; 
many  times  before  you  have  served 
me,  but  to-day  you  have  made  me 
your  debtor  forever.  Pray  do  not 
interrupt  me,  Thornton,"  as  blush- 
ing ingenuously,  the  young  man 


In  Bonds. 


opened  his  lips  to  speak  ;  "I  say 
truly  that  you  have  made  me  your 
debtor  forever.  This  is  a  painful  sub- 
ject to  me,  for  I  shudder  with  horror 
at  the  thought  of  my  darling  having, 
even  for  a  moment,  fallen  into  the 
power  of  Claude  Leveredge  ;  I  never 
wish  to  speak  of  it  again,  but  I  hope 
at  some  time  to  show  you  the  depth 
of  a  mother's  gratitude. " 

' '  Any  man  would  have  done  the 
same  under  the  circumstances, "  in- 
terrupted Mr.  Leslie. 

La  Guerita  shook  her  head,  re- 
maining for  a  moment  lost  in  reverie, 
and  then  exclaiming  :  "  It  is  right ; 
I  will  do  it ! " 

Mr.  Leslie  was  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  to  make  of  these  broken  sen- 
tences, especially  when  she  turned  to 
him,    and  remarked  quietly :    ' '  We  ' 
heard  from  Fabean  yesterday. " 

Ah,  indeed  !  So  also  did  Carrie  ; 
does  he  speak  of  returning  ?  Our 
Carrie  is  so  shy,  she  will  not  give  us 
a  word  of  news  ;  all  engaged  people 
are  equally  reticent,  I  suppose  ?" 

He  looked  up  with  a  smile,  but 
there  was  none  in  answer  upon  the 
face  of  La  Guerita.  "  O,  Thorn- 
ton," she  exclaimed,  "do  you  think 
they  love  each  other  so  very  much  ; 
do  you  indeed  think  so  ?" 

He  looked  at  her  in  great  surprise, 
unable  for  some  moments  to  make 
any  reply.  At  last  he  asked,  with 
some  agitation  :  ' '  Why  do  you  ask 
me,  Mrs.  DeGrey,  have  you  received 
any  bad  news  from  Fabean  ? " 

"No!     No!" 

' '  Perhaps,  then, "  he  exclaimed  ex- 
citedly, ' '  he  wearies  of  the  engage- 
ment ;  and  I  assure  you  my  sister 
has  no  occasion  to  force  herself  on 
any  man  ! " 


' '  You  misunderstand  me, "  cried 
La  Guerita,  ' '  Fabean  has  never  hint- 
ed such  a  thing  to  me  ;  he  may  even 
hate  me  for  what  I  am  about  to  do — 
which  is,  to  beg  you  to  consider  the 
matter  deeply,  before  you  permit  your 
sister  to  link  her  life  with  one  so  over- 
shadowed with  mystery  as  is  that  of 
my  poor  brother.  I  pray  you  to  re- 
flect." 

"You  speak  very  strongly,  Mrs. 
DeGrey." 

' '  Because  I  feel  strongly.  O, 
Thornton,  I  have  felt  the  curse  of 
that  mystery  all  my  life  ;  I  feel  it  now 
a  thousand  times  more  than  before, 
and  it  is  for  my  husband's  and  my 
children's  sake.  Do  you  wish  that 
Carrie  should  feel  the  same  ?  I  beg 
you  not  to  allow  her  to  marry  my 
brother,  until  his  parentage  has  been 
discovered. " 

Thornton  looked  at  her  in  amaze- 
ment ;  he  saw  that  she  was  very  much 
in  earnest.  Her  face  was  paler  even 
than  its  wont,  and  her  eyes  shone  as 
if  her  very  soul  was  concentrated  in 
the  glowing  orbs. 

' '  Tell  me  what  you  mean  ! "  he 
said  excitedly.  ' '  I  never  supposed 
before  that  you  had  any  objection  to 
this  marriage  !  It  cannot  be  that  you 
dislike  Carrie — your  old  friend  and 
schoolfellow  ? " 

' '  No ;  I  love  her  very  dearly, 
Thornton,  and  it  is  because  I  love 
her,  and  would  save  her  from  misery, 
that  I  now  speak  ! " 

"Let  me  understand  you  better, 
Mrs.  De  Grey." 

' '  Thornton,  for  five  years  I  have 
been  a  happy,  happy  wife ;  children 
have  slept  upon  my  bosom  ;  my  hus- 
band has  shielded  me  from  every  ill, 
has  given  me  ever  the  tenderest  love  ; 


In  Bonds. 


and  yet,  I  tell  you  now,  that  were  I 
a  girl  again,  I  would  never  marry. 
No  ;  not  if  I  loved  more  than  woman 
ever  did  before,  would  I  marry,  until 
I  knew  the  secret  of  my  birth  !  O, 
this  mystery  is  to  me  a  living  death ! " 

She  spoke  rapidly,  and  in  accents 
that  penetrated  with  convincing  power 
the  heart  of  her  listener.  Yet  it  was 
long  before  he  could  understand  the 
strong  emotion  which  had  induced 
her  to  speak  upon  a  subject  which  for 
years  she  had  not  mentioned,  even  to 
her  husband  or  Victor  DeGrey. 

' '  You  amaze  me  !  "  he  at  length 
exclaimed  ;  ' '  and  I  hope,  and  be- 
lieve, you  will  pardon  me  for  ask- 
ing, whether  you  have  heard  any- 
thing which  has  led  you  to  believe 
that  an  alliance  with  our  family  would 
not  prove  desirable  ?  " 

' '  I  have  heard  nothing, "  she  re- 
plied ;  ' '  but  I  feel  that  the  crisis  of 
my  life  is  near  at  hand.  Fabean 
may  escape  the  coming  storm  ;  its 
fury  may  be  expended  upon  me. " 

' '  I  know  that  you  speak  in  kind- 
ness, "  said  Leslie,  slowly  ;  ' '  but  your 
words  are  strange ;  I  scarcely  know 
what  to  say.  Your  brother  became 
engaged  to  my  sister  with  the  consent 
of  all  concerned,  and  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult for  me  to  say  that  they  shall  not 
marry. " 

''Thornton,  say  nothing,  unless 
he  suddenly  returns  to  claim  his 
bride ;  but  pray  that  he  may  not 
come  until  this  mystery  is  explained. 
I  never  wish  another  to  bear  the 
weight  that  is  upon  us  ;  it  will  make 
it  none  the  lighter  ! " 

"It  grieves  me,  Mrs.  DeGrey," 
began  Leslie,  ' '  to  see  that  you  allow 
this  matter  to  trouble  you.  Doubt- 
less, Harold's  danger  has  brought  it  to 


mind  ;  but  you  need  fear  no  further 
trouble  from  Leveredge  ;  Victor  and 
I  will  guard  your  house  effectually 
until  your  husband's  return,  and  it 
will  only  be  necessary  for  you  to  keep 
your  children  in  sight  to  secure  their 
perfect  safety. " 

' '  Thank  you  !  thank  you  ! "  re- 
turned La  Guerita  earnestly ;  ' '  and 
you  will  believe  that  I  have  your  sis- 
ter's welfare  at  heart,  as  well  as  my 
brother's  ? " 

"I  cannot  doubt  it,  Mrs.  DeGrey, 
after  witnessing  the  pain  it  has  given 
you  to  speak  ;  I  will  remember  all 
that  you  have  said  ;  I  will  do  all  in 
my  power  to  ward  off  the  marriage  ; 
not  that  I  fear  any  revelation  of  crime 
or  shame  ;  it  is  impossible  that  either 
can  be  connected  with  you. " 

La  Guerita  smiled  dreamily,  say- 
ing :  "I  hope  so,  indeed  !  but  I  feel 
like  one  standing  on  the  sea-shore, 
with  wrecked  vessels  scattered  around 
her,  and  seeing,  at  a  great  distance, 
a  ship,  ladened  with  precious  souls, 
steering  toward  the  rocks,  upon  which 
those  others  have  been  stranded  ;  and 
though  the  water  may  be  deep,  and 
no  harm  may  ensue,  can  I  resist 
shrieking  that  the  rocks  are  there  ! 
or  that  the  waters  may  recede,  and 
leave  them  dry  on  arid  sands  !" 

"I  know  now  what  you  mean," 
said  Thornton  gravely  ;  "my  resolve 
is  taken  ;  my  sister's  life  shall  not  be 
wrecked  upon  the  rocks  of  mystery. 
But  we  will  speak  of  it  no  more 
now.  Good-by  !  Good-by  ! " 

He  wrung  her  hand  and  departed 
hastily,  strongly  moved  and  excited. 
"Poor  woman!"  he  muttered,  at 
length,  as  he  galloped  towartl  Grey- 
mont ;  "she  is  beautiful  and  good, 
but  strange — very  strange  !  " 


In  Bonds. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  And  thou  art  dead,  as  young  and  fair 

As  aught  of  mortal  birth ; 
And  forms  so  soft,  and  charms  so  rare, 

Too  soon  return'd  to  earth  ! 
Though  earth  receiv'd  them  in  her  bed, 
And  o'er  the  spot  the  crowd  may  tread, 

In  carelessness  or  mirth, 
There  is  an  eye  which  could  not  brook 
A  moment  on  that  grave  to  look." 

Byron. 

To  the  sad  wife  at  Enola  the  days 
of  Harold  DeGrey's  absence  passed 
drearily.  Perhaps  it  was  well  for  her 
that  her  children  claimed  the  greater 
part  of  her  thoughts,  leading  her 
mind,  in  spite  of  her  great  fear  of 
some  coming  evil,  to  think  of  other 
subjects  than  that  upon  which  she 
believed  her  husband  had  been  called 
away. 

From  the  moment  that  Thornton 
Leslie  placed  her  little  son  in  her 
arms,  her  jealous  watchfulness  never 
flagged  ;  she  kept  him  constantly  in 
sight.  If  he  went  to  visit  his  grand- 
mama,  at  Greymont,  she  held  him 
in  her  arms  thither  and  back  ;  if  he 
played  in  the  garden,  she  remained 
at  his  side,  and  would,  even  in  the 
house,  keep  him  in  the  room  with 
her.  At  night,  she  had  him  removed 
from  the  nursery  to  her  own  room, 
and  often  awoke  at  night,  startled  by 
some  fancied  noise,  to  clasp  him  to 
her  bosom  in  a  transport  of  alarm. 

Yet,  while  she  felt  for  Harold's 
safety  the  most  intense  anxiety,  her 
little  daughter  was  not  forgotten. 
The  faithful  nurse  would  seldom  take 
her  charge  from  the  presence  of  her 
mother,  so  fearful  was  she  that  an  at- 
tempt to  abduct  her  would  be  made. 

As  Thornton  Leslie  had  promised, 
her  house  was  well  guarded,  and 
thus  it  happened  that  Victor  DeGrey 


was  one  afternoon  at  Enola,  mak- 
ing, in  his  turn,  a  thorough  search 
through  the  house  and  grounds.  At 
dusk  he  entered  the  parlor,  where  La 
Guerita  and  her  children  were  sitting, 
and  exclaimed  : 

' '  It  is  all  right,  La  Guerita  ;  there 
is  no  stranger  in  sight  to-night ;  so 
Mr.  Robber  need  not  be  expected  to 
carry  off  one  of  our  charges  before 
morning. " 

1 '  I  am  thankful  for  that !  "  was  the 
low  spoken  reply. 

' '  I  would  just  like  to  see  the  fel- 
low that  tried  to  carry  off  my  little 
prince  !  "  cried  Victor,  catching  Har- 
old in  his  arms  and  swinging  him  to 
and  fro,  echoing  the  child's  shouts  of 
glee.  "I  suppose,"  he  continued, 
addressing  the  child,  ' '  the  fellow  ex- 
pected to  obtain  a  large  ransom  for 
you.  Did  he  turn  you  upside  down, 
to  see  if  you  had  any  money  in  your 
pockets  ! " 

"What  nonsense  you  talk,  Vic- 
tor," exclaimed  La  Guerita,  in  order 
to  detract  his  attention  from  the  sub- 
ject, as  she  had  not  even  allowed  Vic- 
tor to  know  the  name  of  the  abduc- 
tor, dreading  much  the  scandal  the 
knowledge  would  give  rise  to  if 
known  abroad. 

' '  Well,  I'll  say  something  sensible 
now, "  retorted  Victor  ;  ' '  I  hope  the 
fellow,  whoever  he  is,  left  town. " 

' '  But  he  has  not, "  cried  La  Gue- 
rita, forgetting  her  caution  ;  ' '  Thorn- 
ton would  have  traced  him  if  he 
had." 

"I  thought  Thornton  could  re- 
member nothing  of  his  face  and  fig- 
ure ;  if  I  had  known  before  that  he 
could  identify  the  fellow,  I  would 
have  had  him  looked  for ;  I  wish 
Harold  would  finish  this  confounded 


In  Bonds. 


33 


mysterious  journey  of  his ;  he  must 
be  gone  to  the  moon,  I  think,  for  we 
can  find  no  trace  of  him.  But,  se- 
riously, I  wish  he  would  come  home  ; 
people  are  hinting  queer  things  of 
him  ;  they  say,  and  I  must  say,  I 
think  it  strange  he  has  not  given  even 
his  own  family  a  clue  to  his  where- 
abouts. " 

' '  Oh,  I  wish  he  would  come 
home,"  sighed  La  Guerita,  clasping 
her  hands  nervously ;  "his  mind 
must  be  occupied  by  some  dreadful 
thing,  for  he  has  not  even  remember- 
ed to  write  to  his  wife. '" 

' '  Oh,  it  is  not  possible  that  he  has 
neglected  you  so  long  ! "  returned 
Victor,  with  an  incredulous  smile ; 
"his  letters  have,  no  doubt,  mis- 
carried, or  else  Harold  has  gone  cra- 
zy. I  have  heard  of  some  of  our 
family  being  flighty.  I  am  accused 
of  being  so  myself  sometimes. " 

La  Guerita  sank  back  in  her  seat, 
entreating  him  to  say  no  more  ;  his 
words  affected  her  so  horribly. 

1 '  A  carriage  has  just  entered  the 
gates/'  exclaimed  Victor  ;  "who  can 
it  be  at  this  hour  ? " 

La  Guerita  looked  out,  and  in- 
stantly arose  with  an  expression  of 
joy  upon  her  face,  yet  trembling  in 
even-  limb.  ' '  I  believe  he  has 
come ! "  she  exclaimed ;  "I  am  cer- 
tain it  was  his  hand  upon  the  car- 
riage door.  Go  and  see  ;  I  can't. " 

She  was  indeed  too  much  excited 
to  move  from  the  spot ;  but  Victor 
rushed  to  the  door,  followed  by  little 
Harold,  and  the  nurse  took  the  babe 
from  La  Guerita's  arms  just  as  she 
saw  her  husband  slowly  descend  from 
the  carriage. 

"He   is  ill!"  she  cried,   as   she 
caught  sight  of  his  face,  and  in  a  mo- 
5 


ment  was  beside  him.  With  a  face 
expressive  of  the  greatest  surprise  and 
concern,  Victor  was  assisting  him  up 
the  steps,  and  motioned  her  back, 
saying :  ' '  Don't  touch  him  now  !  he 
is  faint. " 

"Thank  God,  I  am  home  once 
more  ! "  he  said,  as  he  stood  in  the 
hall  and  looked  upon  his  wife. 
.  She  fell  upon  his  breast,  moaning  : 
' '  My  darling  !  my  husband  !  what 
has  come  upon  us  ? " 

' '  The  worst !  "  he  muttered  des- 
pairingly. "  O,  my  God,  can  it  be 
so?" 

"  Harold  !  Harold  !  tell  me  what 
has  happened  ! "  she  cried  wildly  ; 
' ( I  cannot  bear  this  suspense  ;  tell 
me — tell  me  ! " 

Yet  even  while  she  spoke  she  felt 
him  sink  beneath  her,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment beheld  him  in  Victor's  arms, 
as  white  and  motionless  as  soulless 
clay. 

He  was  borne  to  his  chamber,  and 
thither  she  followed  him,  saying  to 
herself :  ' '  The  worst  has  not  come  ; 
he  will  die — he  will  die  ! " 

' '  He  has  merely  fainted, "  whis- 
pered Victor,  soothingly  ;  "we  shall 
soon  bring  him  to ;  I  have  sent  for 
Doctor  Marsh. " 

In  a  few  moments  he  wras  at  Eno- 
la,  having,  fortunately,  been  but  a  few 
paces  distant  when  met  by  the  mes- 
senger. Under  his  active  measures 
DeGrey  soon  recovered  from  his 
swoon  ;  but  he  awoke  with  the  wild 
fever  of  delirium  upon  him,  recog- 
nizing no  one,  and  uttering  nothing, 
save  apparently  meaningless  words. 
For  hours  the  physician  remained 
beside  him,  but  no  change  appeared 
in  his  condition.  In  vain  La  Gue- 
rita bent  over  him,  with  wild  entreat- 


34 


In  Bonds. 


ies  and  prayerful  sobs  ;  he  only  look- 
ed at  her  vacantly,  once  exclaiming 
wildly  :  "  O,  cursed  love  !  take  away 
this  dagger  ! "  striking  his  breast  wild- 
ly, as  if  in  a  frenzy  of  despair. 

Thornton  Leslie  was  below,  and 
Dr.  Marsh  went  down  to  see  him. 
"  I  am  glad  you  are  come/'  he  said  ; 
' '  you  have,  for  many  years,  been  a 
friend  of  the  family,  stay  here  for  an 
hour,  I  beg,  and  see  that  my  direc- 
tions are  followed  to  the  letter. " 

"I  will,  Doctor — I  will;  but  tell 
me,  what  is  the  matter  with  DeGrey  ? 
The  servants  are  too  much  frightened 
to  tell  me  anything. " 

1 '  And  no  wonder.  I  greatly  fear 
the  poor  fellow  has  met  his  death- 
blow somewhere.  Queer  thing  alto- 
gether, this  journey  of  his,  you  know ; 
brain  fever  will  be  the  result,  I  strong- 
ly suspect. " 

They  heard  La  Guerita  upon  the 
stairs.  ' '  I  must  go, "  cried  the  Doc- 
tor, starting  up,  ' '  though  only  a  case 
involving  life  and  death  could  call  me 
from  here,  and  I've  such  an  one  on 
hand ;  besides,  I  can't  bear  to  meet 
that  poor  creature's  questions;  my 
answers  would  kill  her;"  and  he 
darted  out  of  a  side  door,  thus  evad- 
ing the  scene  he  dreaded. 

By  these  words  Thornton  Leslie 
knew  that  Dr.  Marsh  believed  Har- 
old DeGrey  would  die,  as  he  was  not 
one  to  create  any  unnecessary  alarm, 
and  with  a  shudder  he  turned  to  meet 
the  almost  frenzied  La  Guerita. 

"Where  is  the  Doctor?"  she  ex- 
claimed ;  ' '  Ah,  cruel  man,  to  go 
without  giving  me  one  word  of  com- 
fort. What  did  he  tell  you,  Thorn- 
ton ? " 

"Simply  that  your  husband  has 
an  attack  of  brain  fever,"  he  answer- 


ed, in  a  trembling  voice  ;  ' '  but, 
Mrs.  DeGrey,  I  beg  you  to  be  calm  ; 
nothing  can  be  gained  by  this  excite- 
ment, and  the  effect  upon  your  hus- 
band is  much  to  be  dreaded.  Let 
me  entreat  you  not  to  despair. " 

She  left  the  room,  turning  a  deaf 
ear  to  all  his  remonstrances  and  en- 
treaties. 

On  her  way  up  stairs  she  met  her 
little  son,  who  was  standing  in  his 
night-dress,  refusing  to  return  to  his 
little  cot,  and,  with  a  startled  expres- 
sion in  his  dark  eyes,  piteously  ask- 
ing :  ' '  Why  they  cried  so  ? " 

Without  heeding  his  questions,  his 
mother  took  him  in  her  arms  and 
carried  him  into  the  room  where  his 
father  lay.  He  clung  to  her  shoulder 
with  a  scream  of  affright,  as  his  eyes 
fell  upon  the  ghastly  face  and  wildly 
rolling  eyes  of  the  sufferer. 

' '  Who's  that  ? "  he  cried  ;  ' '  mam- 
ma— Uncle  Vic,  who  is  that  ? " 

"Your  papa;  don't  you  know 
your  own  dear  papa  ? "  whispered 
Victor,  as  he  took  the  frightened 
child  in  his  arms  and  stood  with  him 
at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  hoping  to  gain 
some  sign  of  recognition  from  his 
brother. 

' f  No — no  !  that's  not  my  papa  !  " 
cried  Harold,  shaking  his  head ; 
' '  my  papa  is  not  white,  like  him  ; 
he  looks  like  the  men  we  saw  in  the 
big  house,  with  no  windows.  Mam- 
ma— mamma,  take  me  away  ;  I's  so 
afraid  ! " 

She  took  him  in  her  arms  and  left 
the  room,  feeling  that  she  could  not 
endure  more  of  such  a  scene.  After 
Harold  was  in  his  cot,  she  went, 
aimlessly,  down  to  the  silent  parlors, 
where  she  found  Mrs.  DeGrey  most 
anxiously  awaiting  her,  though  she, 


In  Bonds. 


35 


as  yet,  did  not  even  dream  the  extent 
of  the  evil  that  had  come  upon  her 
son. 

"My  poor  girl!"  she  said,  kiss- 
ing La  Guerita  tenderly,  "I  know 
you  must  be  dreadfully  alarmed,  and 
I  suppose  you  are  very  much  sur- 
prised to  see  me  at  so  late  an  hour  ; 
but  I  couldn't  stay  away.  The  doc- 
tor stopped  and  told  me  all  about  it. 
I  was  dreadfully  shocked  to  hear 
that  our  dear  Harold  has  returned 
home  delirious. " 

"O,  mamma!  not  only  delirious, 
but  dying  ! " 

Mrs.  DeGrey  looked  startled,  but 
replied,  incredulously :  ' '  That,  sure- 
ly, cannot  be,  my  dear.  The  doctor 
never  hinted  the  possibility  of  such  a 
thing  to  me  ;  but  I  will  go  up  stairs 
and  see  for  myself  how  he  is. " 

But  she  was  met  at  the  door  of  the 
bed-room  by  Victor,  who  gently,  yet 
firmly,  denied  her  admittance,  while 
Thornton  muttered,  impatiently  : 
' '  Those  women  will  kill  him  ! " 
Mrs.  DeGrey  overheard  the  words, 
and,  as  much  offended  as  grieved, 
returned  to  the  parlor,  saying  to  La 
Guerita,  as  she  entered  : 

1 '  They  won't  let  me  into  his  room, 
so  I  can't  just  tell  you  how  he  is  ; 
but  I  am  sure,  my  dear,  you  need 
not  be  so  much  alarmed.  My  hus- 
band once  returned  from  a  harassing 
journey  with  a  fever,  and  was  deliri- 
ous two  or  three  days  ;  I  was  young 
and  inexperienced  then,  as  you  are  ; 
but  I  learned  afterwards  that  I  had 
had  no  great  cause  for  alarm  ;  and  I 
believe,  and  hope,  it  will  prove  the 
same  now." 

La  Guerita  made  no  reply,  and 
Mrs.  DeGrey  remained  silent,  mov- 
ing restlessly  about  the  gloomy  room. 


At  last  she  went  to  the  nursery,  where 
she  found  the  children  quietly  sleep- 
ing. 

' '  I  am  glad  you  have  a  light  here, " 
she  said  to  the  nurse ;  "I  became 
quite  nervous  in  those  dark  parlors, 
lighted  only  by  the  gas  in  the  hall. 
Hadn't  I  better  ring  for  lights  to  be 
taken  there  ?  " 

' '  I  think  not,  ma'am, "  answered 
the  girl ;  ' '  Mrs.  DeGrey  always  likes 
quiet  and  darkness  when  anything 
troubles  her ;  it  seems  to  soothe  her 
mind ;  I  think  she's  best  alone  just 
now,  ma'am." 

And  the  girl  was  right ;  for  in  si- 
lence and  obscurity  La  Guerita  was, 
in  a  wild,  erratic  way,  schooling  her- 
self to  bear  the  great  calamity  which 
she  plainly  saw  was  about  to  fall  upon 
her,  and,  as  the  hours  passed,  she 
grew  slowly — not  less  despairing — 
but  more  calm. 

When  the  doctor  came  she  slipped 
noiselessly  after  him  into  her  hus- 
band's room,  and,  unrecognized  by 
him,  took  up  her  station  at  the  head 
of  the  bed,  half  hidden  by  the  flow- 
ing drapery.  Mrs.  DeGrey  soon  af- 
ter entered  the  room,  with  her  usual 
firm  step  and  haughty  air ;  but  an 
expression  of  gloom  and  dismay 
slowly  settled  upon  her  face,  as  she 
gazed  upon  the  ghastly  countenance 
of  her  son. 

' '  If  he  could  but  sleep,  we  might 
hope  greatly, "  remarked  Dr.  Marsh, 
in  a  low  tone  aside  to  Thornton  Les- 
lie ;  ' '  do  you  see  that  the  narcotics 
are  carefully  administered?  Poor 
Victor  is  almost  crazy  himself,  though 
he  looks  so  calm.  I  will  be  here 
again  in  an  hour." 

Mrs.  DeGrey  followed  the  doctor 
from  the  room,  and  when,  after  an 


In    Bonds. 


absence  of  ten  minutes,  she  returned, 
La  Guerita  knew  that  she,  too,  had 
lost  all  hope. 

None  of  the  four  could  be  induced 
to  leave  the  room  during  the  night, 
so  anxiously  were  they  to  see  some 
change  in  DeGrey.  Doctor  Marsh 
returned  within  the  hour  and  joined 
in  the  vigil ;  but  even  his  quick  eye 
could  denote  no  alteration  in  the 
state  of  the  patient. 

"You  will  kill  yourself,"  he  whis- 
pered to  La  Guerita,  as  the  gray  dawn 
struggled  in  ;  "  you  have  not  been 
out  of  the  room,  except  once,  when 
called  to  your  babe,  for  the  night ; 
go  now,  she  is  crying  for  you. " 

Her  maternal  instincts  were  arous- 
ed, and  with  a  look  of  utter  woe  and 
despair,  she  went  to  the  nursery  and 
took  the  wailing  babe  to  her  bosom  ; 
sinking  upon  the  cot,  utterly  exhaust- 
ed, she  fell  asleep,  and  for  two  short 
hours  was  oblivious  of  her  misery. 

She  was  awakened  by  little  Harold's 
voice,  and  feeling  that  she  could  en- 
dure neither  his  fretful  crying  or  bois- 
terous play,  she  told  the  nurse  to  take 
him  to  Greymont,  and  watch  him 
carefully.  Thornton  Leslie,  she  knew, 
would  accompany  them,  so  she  had 
no  fears  for  the  child's  safety ;  and  as 
little  Althea  could,  upon  the  return 
of  the  nurse,  be  left  entirely  to  her 
care,  La  Guerita  felt  some  slight  de- 
gree of  comfort  in  knowing  she  would 
be  free  to  stand  beside  her  husband. 

All  through  the  long,  weary  day 
he  remained  delirious,  recognizing 
no  one,  and  at  intervals  breaking 
forth  into  invectives  against  some 
nameless  person,  or  moaning,  as  if 
in  very  agony  of  spirit. 

A  celebrated  physician  from  New 
York,  had,  by  the  advice  of  Doctor 


Marsh,  been  sent  for,  and  he  agreed 
with  him  in  thinking  that  a  long, 
quiet  sleep  would  restore  the  mind  of 
Harold  DeGrey,  and  perhaps  save  his 
life.  He  also  gave  it  as  his  opinion, 
that  his  disorder  was  owing  entirely 
to  some  great  mental  excitement,  and 
that  in  consequence  he  had  not  slept 
perhaps  for  weeks,  and  had  lost  his 
reason  by  the  unbroken  anxiety  he 
had  suifered. 

On  the  third  day  of  Harold  De- 
Grey's  return,  a  consultation  of  phy- 
sicians was  held.  La  Guerita  felt 
while  they  were  closeted  together,  as 
if  the  walls  of  the  house  were  stifling 
her,  and  opening  the  window  of  the 
library  in  which  she  stood,  stepped 
forth  upon  the  lawn. 

It  was  in  the  early  days  of  the  first 
month  of  Spring,  and  the  air  was 
filled  with  the  faint  perfume  of  open- 
ing buds.  For  some  weeks  there 
had  been  a  great  deal  of  rain,  and  the 
ground  was  sodden  and  cold,  giving 
forth,  to  the  excited  imagination  of 
La  Guerita,  a  smell  like  that  of  a 
new-made  grave,  or  freshly-opened 
vault.  Even  the  graveled  paths  were 
wet  and  sunken,  and  gave  but  a  dull 
echo  to  her  slow,  firm  tread. 

More  hurriedly  would  she  have 
gone  had  she  known  that  from  a 
clump  of  holly  she  was  watched 
by  dark,  wild  eyes,  set  in  a  face  as 
pallid  as  her  own. 

She  looked  toward  the  setting  sun 
as  it  dipped  beneath  the  ocean  waves, 
and  wished  that  she  too  might  sink 
to  rest — to  oblivion — and  be  unmiss- 
ed,  unwept,  forgotten. 

"  But  I  shall  not  die  !  "  she  mur- 
mured; "I  feel  that  there  is  life, 
hateful  life,  in  this  bosom  ;"  and  she 
clasped  her  hands  above  her  heart  as 


In  Bonds. 


37 


if  she  would  gladly  tear  it  from  her 
bosom.  ' '  O,  Harold,  my  darling  ! 
my  love  !  You  will  die,  and  must  I 
live  ? " 

She  sank  upon  the  damp  ground, 
for  an  hour  or  more  remaining  silent 
and  motionless,  then  her  misery  found 
vent  in  such  passionate  words  of  dire- 
ful meaning,  that  the  face  peering 
from  the  thicket  behind  her,  grew 
livid  in  its  paleness,  as  she  cried 
aloud  :  "I  curse  him,  as  he  has 
cursed  me,  with  all  my  strength,  and 
life,  and  soul  !  For  I  have  no  hope, 
no  mercy,  no  God,  to  help  or  pity 
me  !  There  cannot  be  a  God  of 
Love  !  There  cannot  be  !  " 

She  heard  a  rustling  in  the  leaves 
behind  her,  but  turning,  saw  nothing. 
A  short,  bitter  laugh  broke  from  her 
lips.  "  If  I  were  seen  people  would 
call  me  nervous  or  perhaps  worse," 
she  murmured,  ' '  but  I  am  not ;  no, 
no  ;  my  nerves  are  iron  !  They  can 
quake  no  more  ;  I  know  what  is  to 
come  ! " 

These  last  words  were  spoken  to 
herself,  but  appropriated  by  Dr. 
Marsh,  who  had  quietly  approached 
her. 

' '  Of  ourselves  we  can  know  noth- 
ing, "  he  said  gravely,  taking  her  pas- 
sive hand,  and  lifting  her  from  the 
damp  earth.  "My  daughter,  we 
have  done  all  that  human  wisdom 
can  dictate ;  let  us  humbly  and  pray- 
erfully leave  the  result  with  God  ! " 

She  cast  away  his  hand,  crying : 
"  O,  I  can't  bear  it.  I  cannot  bear 
it!" 

' '  Child,  sorrow  must  come  to  all, " 
returned  the  kind  hearted  physician. 
"Give  not  your  soul  to  despair,  but 
remember  that  more  will  not  be  given 
you  than  you  can  endure,  and  that 


God  even  tempers  the  wind  to  the 
shorn  lamb  ! " 

' '  Has  he  tempered  it  to  me  ? "  she 
cried.  ' '  Don't  speak  to  me  of  res- 
ignation. I  can  never,  never  be 
resigned.  Is  he  not  taking  my  all — 
my  life  from  me  ?" 

' '  My  dear  Mrs  DeGrey  this  is  im- 
pious. " 

1 '  Ah,  yes  ;  you  expect  me  to  bow 
and  kiss  the  hand  that  smites  me  ! 
What  have  I  done  that  I  should  be 
punished  thus.  What  crime  have  I 
committed  that  all  the  joy  of  my  life 
should  be  taken  from  me. " 

' '  Be  calm,  my  daughter,  be  calm  ; 
remember  that  many  idols  have  been 
shattered  before  ;  many  just  women 
have  been  widowed  and  made  child- 
less, too,  while  you  will  still  have  your 
little  ones  left. " 

"Remember  them!  I  do;  but 
what  joy  can  come  upon  the  children 
of  a  mother  with  a  curse  upon  her  ?" 

The  good  doctor  comprehended 
then  the  reason  of  her  despair  ;  for  a 
moment  he  could  say  nothing,  and 
stood  before  her  in  sad  perplexity  and 
grief.  ' '  I  cannot  comfort  you, "  he 
said,  at  length  ;  "  I  can  only  pray  that 
God  in  mercy  will." 

And  he  knelt,  with  bowed  head, 
beside  her,  holding  the  skirt  of  her 
robe,  as  he  fervently  prayed  that  the 
life  of  Harold  DeGrey  might  be 
spared,  or  that  strength  to  bear  his 
loss  might  be  given  his  young  wife. 

She  listened  with  softened  face, 
and  pleading  eyes,  to  the  few  sen- 
tences in  which  he  entreated  the  life 
of  her  husband  ;  but  again  the  face 
grew  hard  as  he  prayed  for  her,  and 
at  last  she  exclaimed  : 

' '  Pray  for  his  life  !  I  care  not  for 
comfort  if  he  is  taken  from  me  !  Pray 


In  Bonds. 


that  he  will  spare  my  husband's  life, 
or  take  mine  also. " 

The  good  man  arose  from  his 
knees,  saying  :  ' '  God's  will  be  done, " 
and  taking  the  arm  of  La  Guerita, 
led  her  into  the  house,  away  from 
the  spectral  face  that  peered  after 
them  from  the  depths  of  the  shrub- 
bery. 

Victor  DeGrey  had  already  been 
told  of  the  helpless  condition  in  which 
his  brother  lay,  and  as  Dr.  Marsh 
and  La  Guerita  entered  the  hall,  he 
met  them,  with  all  the  anguish  of  his 
soul  depicted  on  his  face.  Unable 
to  speak,  he  put  his  arms  around  his 
brother's  wife,  and  pressed  a  kiss  up- 
on her  brow.  But  she  could  not  en- 
dure a  token  of  sympathy,  even  from 
him,  and  put  aside  his  arm  almost 
sternly,  and  walked  directly  up  stairs 
to  her  husband's  room. 

Thornton  Leslie  and  Mrs.  De- 
Grey  were  there.  They  drew  aside 
when  La  Guerita  entered,  even  the 
mother  feeling  that  her  grief  was 
nothing  in  comparison  to  that  of  the 
young  wife.  With  a  thrill  of  joy 
they  saw  that  Harold  recognized  her, 
though  he  was  perfectly  oblivious  to 
the  presence  of  all  others.  As  she 
bent  over  him,  he  looked  at  her  with 
pitying  tenderness,  and  feebly  placed 
his  arm  about  her  neck.  They  hoped 
that  he  would  speak,  but  he  made  no 
effort  to  do  so. 

La  Guerita  laid  down  beside  him, 
and  pillowed  his  head  on  her  breast, 
and  to  the  amazement  of  all  present, 
began  to  sing,  in  a  low  voice,  more 
like  an  echo  than  a  master  tone,  a 
simple  lullaby — one  with  which  her 
husband  had  loved  to  hear  her  soothe 
her  children.  Ere  long  they  saw  that 
a  change  was  spreading  over  his  coun- 


tenance, a  slumberous  look  crept  in- 
to his  eyes,  and  a  lethargy  was  steal- 
ing over  his  frame.  Mrs.  DeGrey 
turned  an  inquiring  gaze  upon  Dr. 
Marsh,  but  he  made  no  sign  of  re- 
sponse, but  with  his  finger  upon  the 
pulse  of  his  patient,  watched  his  face 
with  intense  anxiety,  as  he  slowly 
sank  into  a  profound  and  deathlike 
sleep. 

' '  There  is  hope, "  murmured  Mrs. 
De  Grey. 

But  neither  the  Doctor,  nor  La 
Guerita  heeded  her  words,  and  for 
hours  both  kept  the  positions  they 
had  taken,  the  doctor  feeling  that  he 
could  not  drop  the  wrist  in  which 
life  so  faintly  throbbed.  But  at  ten 
o'clock  he  laid  it  down,  and  went  in- 
to the  parlor  to  take  a  short  nap  upon 
the  sofa,  and  leaving  his  patient  in 
the  hands  of  Dr.  Liston,  his  associate, 
telling  Victor  to  call  him  if  any 
change  was  apparent. 

La  Guerita  had  not  for  a  moment 
ceased  her  wailing  song,  and  it  sound- 
ed through  the  still  house  like  a  fune- 
ral chant,  as  Dr.  Marsh  sleeplessly 
awaited  his  summons.  At  midnight 
it  came.  Victor  entered  the  room, 
and  said  huskily  :  "He  has  awaken- 
ed, and  recognized  us  all.  Dr.  Lis- 
ton thinks  there  is  a  hope  !  O,  Doctor, 
can  there  be  ? " 

' '  I  cannot  say  ;  I  will  go  up.  I 
pray  God  his  sleep  came  not  too  late. " 

When  they  entered  the  room,  al- 
though DeGrey  lay  with  his  eyes  wide 
open,  gazing  with  a  look  of  sad  intel- 
ligence around,  he  had  not  yet  spoken. 
He  did  so  when  the  Doctor  approach- 
ed him,  looking  at  his  wife,  and 
murmuring  :  "  My  love  !  My  love  !  " 

She  tried  to  speak  to  him  but 
could  not.  She  knew  that  he  was 


In  Bonds. 


39 


dying,  and  she  could  not,  could  not 
give  him  up. 

' '  Bring  the  children  in, "  he  whis- 
pered. 

His  mother  noiselessly  left  the 
room,  and  presently  returned  with 
the  nurse  and  the  two  sleeping  chil- 
dren. He  signified  that  he  did  not 
wish  them  aroused,  but  kissing  them 
fondly,  had  them  laid  where  his  eyes 
could  fall  upon  them. 

Then  his  mother  bent  over  him, 
entreating  him  to  speak  to  her.  ' '  God 
bless  you  !  God  bless  you  !  "  he  said, 
as  he  kissed  her.  ' '  Don't  fret  about 
me,  mother,  Victor  will  be  left. " 

She  drew  back,  sobbing  bitterly. 

' '  Victor, "  muttered  the  dying  man, 
' '  Come  here  ;  close,  close  ;  you 
must  hear ;  you  must  care  for  my  wife 
when  I  am  gone  ;  and  you,  Thorn- 
ton, and  Fabean, — where  are  you 
all  ?  No  matter  what  happens,  you 
must  stand  by  my  wife  and  the  chil- 
dren. You'll  not  forget  ? " 

' '  No,  no  ! "  answered  both  ;  and 
Thornton  Leslie  clasped  the  hand  of 
Harold  DeGrey,  then  left  the  room, 
quite  overcome  by  his  emotions. 
But  Victor,  impulsive  still,  bent  over 
his  brother,  in  an  agony  of  grief,  to 
hear  his  last  farewell. 

Tears  come  to  women  when  trifles 
move  them  ;  but  to  most  men,  even- 
tear  is  as  a  drop  of  life-blood  wrested 
from  the  heart  in  agony.  So  were 
they  to  Victor,  as  his  brother — his 
guide,  his  friend — pressed  a  kiss  up- 
on his  lips,  as  if  he  were  a  child — 
the  child  of  his  fondest  hopes,  and 
then  muttered,  faintly  :  ' '  Leave  me 
with  my  wife.  Good-by  !  Good-by. " 

Kissing  her  son's  pale  lips,  Mrs. 
DeGrey  left  the  room  followed  by  all 
but  La  Guerita  and  the  children. 


For  a  time  neither  spoke,  each  breast 
was  surcharged  with  feelings  too  deep 
for  words.  At  last,  he  murmured  : 
' '  Look  up,  my  wife  ;  let  me  see  your 
eyes  once  more  before  I  die. " 

"You  shall  not  die,  Harold.  O, 
it  is  cruel — it  is  wicked — to  take  you 
from  me." 

' '  No,  no,  my  darling,  it  is  best  ! 
— it  is  best !  " 

"  Why  ?"  she  cried.  "  O,  tell  me 
Harold  what  has  happened  ?" 

"  My  poor,  poor  child  !  "  he  whis- 
pered, soothingly  caressing  the  damp 
black  hair  that  had  escaped  from  its 
fastenings,  and  lay  wildly  around 
her.  ' '  Poor  little  one  !  Trust  in 
God." 

She  moaned  bitterly,  but  said 
nothing.  She  could  not  wound  him 
by  giving  utterance  to  her  utter  un- 
belief. 

"O,  if  you  could  but  live,  my 
husband  ! "  She  sank  upon  his 
breast,  and  lay  shuddering,  clinging 
there,  while  she  knew  that  he  wrestled 
and  pleaded  for  her  with  God — the 
God  she  rejected — with  the  strong 
desire  of  a  trusting  heart. 

"Tell  me  what  has  come  upon 
us,"  she  entreated,  when  his  lips 
ceased  moving  ;  ' '  What  called  you 
away  ? " 

' '  Is  the  letter  gone  ? "  he  answered, 
in  a  tone  that  assured  her  that  his 
mind  was  wandering.  "Yes,  yes, 
it  is  !  You'll  never  know  the  secret. " 
Then  with  a  great  effort  he  lifted 
himself,  and  strained  her  to  his  breast, 
saying :  ' '  Remember,  I  never  ceased 
to  love  you — to  love — " 

She  heard  a  stifled  moan,  and 
looking  up,  screamed  with  terror  at 
the  awful  pallor  of  his  face.  She 
was  heard  bv  those  without — thev 


4o 


In  Bonds. 


rushed  in  and  found  him  lying  in  her 
arms,  gazing  upon  her  face.  They 
stood  in  awe  around,  and  for  a  few 
moments  nothing  was  heard  save  a 
faint  sob  or  moan.  Once  the  tearless 
wife  bent  down  and  kissed  his  ashy 
lips.  He  smiled,  and  they  saw  a 
glorious  light  come  into  his  raised 
eyes,  then  slowly  fade ;  and  they 
knew  that  Harold  DeGrey  was  dead. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  Life  leaves — dead,  and  brown,  and  sere, 
Round  the  threshold,  lone  and  drear — 
Rustle  in  the  autumn  breeze. 
Raindrops  slowly  fall  and  freeze  : 

Soft  lips  hushed, 

Young  lives  crushed, 

Bright  hopes  scattered, 

Harp  strings  shattered — 
Withered  flowers,  and  vines,  and  tears, 
Cover  graves  of  earlier  years !  " 

THREE  suns  had  risen  and  set  since 
the  owner  of  Enola  had  lain  as  soul- 
less clay  where  he  had  once  ruled  a 
master  spirit.  Their  last  rays  were 
falling  upon  his  grave  when  La  Gue- 
rita  entered  the  silent  library  with  a 
packet  in  her  hand — the  letters  he  had 
imagined  destroyed. 

When  he  died,  in  spite  of  his  half 
delirious  words,  she  believed  that  it 
was  still  in  existence.  Even  her  agony 
did  not  induce  her  to  forget  what  she 
believed  contained  the  secret  of  her 
life.  She  sought  and  found  it,  thrust 
in  the  pocket  of  his  coat,  as  if  of  no 
importance ;  he  had,  perhaps,  in  his 
distraction  destroyed  some  other  pa- 
pers, but  that  mattered  not :  the  secret 
was  safe. 

On  their  return  from  the  funeral 
Mrs.  DeGrey  and  Victor  had  entreated 
her  to  go  with  them  to  Greymont,  but 
she  refused  to  do  so,  saying  she  was 
better  alone.  So  they  left  her,  think- 


ing it  was  perhaps  better,  for  her  mind 
seemed  dazed ;  perfect  solitude  might 
restore  it  to  activity  again. 

1 '  They  have  taken  even  his  body 
from  me/'  she  moaned,  as  they  left 
her  in  her  silent  dwelling ;  and  again, 
like  a  refrain  from  far-off  shores,  came 
the  strange  words  into  her  mind  that 
had  been  surging  through  it  through 
all  the  days  of  her  widowhood  : 

"Take  the  dead  Christ  to  my  chamber. 


Bear  him  as  in  procession, 

And  lay  him  solemnly 

Where  through  the  weary  night  and  morning 

He  shall  bear  me  company  ! " 

"They  would  call  me  sinful,"  she 
muttered  ;  ' '  Sinful !  when  he  was  all 
I  had  to  love — my  Priest  and  King, 
and  more  !  But  now  he  is  dead ! 
dead  !  dead  ! " 

"  Bear  him  as  in  procession, 
And  lay  him  solemnly 

Where  through  the  weary  night  and  morning 
He  shall  bear  me  company !  " 

She  spoke  the  words  aloud,  and 
their  strange  meaning,  with  the  hollow 
sound  of  her  own  voice,  startled  her. 
She  clasped  her  hands  upon  her  heart, 
and  felt  there  the  packet  she  had  found, 
and  with  jealous  care  placed  where  no 
hands  might  tear  it  from  her. 

' '  I  will  read  it  now, "  she  muttered 
to  herself;  "  I  will  know  why  I  was 
called  La  Guerita  DeCuba,  and  why — 
why  he  died  ! '" 

The  shadows  of  evening  were  fast 
filling  the  room  where  she  sat.  She 
remembered  that  a  servant  was  light- 
ing the  gas  in  the  library  when  she 
passed,  and  thither  she  went  to  learn 
her  history,  still  with  the  strange 
words  of  the  poem  surging  through 
her  brain,  like  a  slow,  monotonous 
melody. 

Noiselessly  she  glided   down  the 


In  Bonds. 


stairs,  and  over  the  thickly-carpeted 
hall.  For  a  moment  she  stood  at  the 
door,  fancying  she  heard  a  slight 
noise — a  cat-like  mstle. 

" '  Tis  but  the  crackling  of  the  fire, " 
she  said ;  and  opening  the  door  went 
in,  but  receded  in  alarm  as  a  tall  fig- 
ure turned  toward  her,  then  sprang 
through  the  open  window,  and  in  an 
instant  disappeared  from  view. 

Her  first  impulse  was  to  fly,  but  a 
second  glance  at  the  room  caused 
her  to  enter  it.  Trembling,  yet  calm 
and  determined,  she  turned  on  the 
gas,  and  by  its  steady  light  saw  plainly 
what  the  glare  of  the  fire  had  but  im- 
perfectly revealed.  The  window  was 
wide  open,  and  a  tool  lay  upon  the 
sill,  with  which  the  lock  of  the  secre- 
tary had  been  forced  open.  The  pa- 
pers it  had  contained  were  scattered 
about  the  floor,  but  she  neither  cared 
nor  looked  to  see  whether  any  were 
missing,  as  she  quietly  gathered  them 
up,  and  threw  them  into  the  drawers. 
She  closed  and  barred  the  open  win- 
dow, calling  no  one  to  assist  her,  or 
follow  the  daring  intruder  ;  she  had 
recognized  him,  and  cared  not  that 
others  should. 

At  last  she  seated  herself  in  a  low 
rocking  chair,  not  swaying  back  and 
forth  as  she  had  often  done  when  en- 
gaged in  idle  reverie,  but  remaining 
rigidly  erect  and  still,  watching  the 
ashes  as  they  slowly  fell,  and  remem- 
bering how  Harold  had  once  said  : 
"No  cinders  of  care  shall  ever  fall 
from  the  fire  of  my  love  to  which  the 
ashes  of  sorrow  may  cling. "  Alas  ! 
the  fire  of  his  love  by  death  had  been 
quenched,  and  she  had  heard  the 
fearful  words,  "dust  to  dust,  ashes  to 
ashes, "  as  they  laid  his  form  in  the 
cold  ground,  to  molder  forever  away. 


For  hours  the  packet  lay  unopened 
upon  her  lap,  her  nerveless  hands 
clasped  over  it ;  but  at  last  some 
slight  movement  caused  it  to  slip 
down  the  sable  folds  of  her  dress,  re- 
calling her  mind  to  the  task  she  had 
pledged  it  to  perform.  She  stooped 
and  took  it  in  her  hand,  took  forth 
the  closely-written  sheets  from  the 
torn  envelope,  looked  upon  the  well- 
known  writing  of  him  she  had  loved 
as  a  child,  and,  as  a  woman,  feared. 

She  passed  her  hand  over  her  eyes, 
to  smooth  away  a  strange  heat  and 
blindness  that  gathered  there,  and 
then  calmly  read  the  opening  words 
of  the  letter,  so  expressive  to  her  of 
deadly  hate. 

"To  Harold  DeGrey,  from  one 
who  swore  never  to  forgive  or  forget. 

' f  Upon  receiving  this  you  will  at 
once  conjecture  that  the  news  I  have 
to  tell  concerns  the  woman  you  took 
from  me  more  than  five  years  ago.  I 
write  to  you  because  I  hate  you,  and 
because  I  know  that  my  words  will 
blast  all  your  hopes,  and  darken  your 
whole  life. 

"Perhaps  you  are  already  ac- 
quainted with  my  history,  but  at 
anyrate  it  will  not  prove  uninteresting 
to  you  when  told  by  myself.  I  have 
nothing  uncommon  to  reveal.  The 
events  that  have  marked  my  life  have 
been  ordinary  enough  ;  my  passion- 
ate soul  alone  has  invested  them  with 
that  importance  which  renders  them 
so  different  to  those  that  befall  thou- 
sands of  mortals  who  live  long  years, 
and  die  at  last  in  the  belief  that 
the  world  has  dealt  kindly  by  them. 
I  thank  Fate,  or  Providence,  that  no 
such  passive  soul  was  placed  in  this 
frame  of  mine ;  and  it  is  because  of 
that,  I  could  not  lay  my  hand  upon 


In  Bonds. 


my  heart  and  bow  in  resignation  when 
you  stood  at  the  altar,  and  gained  the 
bride  that  should  have  been  mine.  I 
am  also  thankful  that  a  certain  pa- 
tience— the  patience  of  the  serpent 
when  it  coils  for  a  deadly  spring- 
was  given  to  this  fiery  soul  of  mine, 
so  that  no  blind,  mad  impulse  led  me 
to  kill  your  body,  but  to  calmly,  de- 
liberately bide  the  time  when  I  might 
torture — ay,  kill  your  soul. 

' '  But  this  is  a  digression,  no  doubt 
wearisome  to  you,  but  perhaps  of  im- 
portance in  giving  you  a  complete 
comprehension  of  what  is  to  follow. 

"It  is  just  thirty  years  since  I,  a 
weak,  struggling  babe,  came  into  ex- 
istence, taking  from  my  mother  the 
life  that  refused  to  sustain  us  both. 
None  rejoiced  when  I  came — all  wept 
when  she  departed.  I  was  taken  as 
an  ugly  and  unwelcome  burden,  and 
ungraciously  cherished  by  the  sable 
nurse  that  had  carried  my  dead  mother 
as  a  babe  in  her  arms.  But  there  is 
a  tender  spot  in  the  heart  of  every 
woman,  and  before  long  I  found  that 
in  old  Elsie's,  and  struggled  into  boy- 
hood in  the  sunshine  of  her  love. 

'  *  Some  fathers  would  have  turned 
with  adoration  to  the  only  child  of  a 
dead  wife,  or  would  have  hated  it  as 
the  instrument  of  her  death.  Mine 
did  neither.  When  they  took  me  to 
him,  thinking  that  the  sight  of  me 
would  comfort  him,  he  put  me  aside, 
not  harshly,  but  as  if  I  was  some  in- 
sensate thing,  and  they  knew  that  I 
was  to  be  cared  for,  but  not  in  his 
sight  or  hearing.  So  the  nursery  my 
mother  had  so  daintily  fitted  up  for 
my  reception  was  closed,  and  Aunt 
Elsie  took  me  to  a  little  cabin  under 
wide  spreading  oaks,  where  neither  my 
wailing  or  my  mirth  could  reach  the 


ears  of  the  stern,  silent  man  who  lived 
in  the  closed  house,  a  grim  and  cheer- 
less hermit. 

' '  I  seldom  saw  him  ;  for  once  when 
he  lifted  me  upon  his  knee,  and  looked 
in  my  face  with  his  wild,  dark  eyes,  I 
shrieked  in  affright,  and  he  put  me 
down,  never  again  to  lay  hand  upon 
me,  or  even  glance  my  way. 

' '  I  remember  well  the  strange  feel- 
ing of  awe,  and  yet  of  relief,  with 
which  I  looked  upon  him  as  he  lay 
dead  in  his  coffin,  and  realized  that 
the  man  whom  for  the  ten  years  of  my 
life  I  had  regarded  with  almost  super- 
stitious fear  would  soon  be  hidden 
from  my  sight  forever. 

"O,  how  often  that  dead  face  has 
presented  itself  to  my  imagination 
within  the  last  five  years  !  When  I 
look  in  the  glass  I  am  startled  to  find 
it  looking  back  at  me,  and  I  know 
that  I  am  suffering  torture  like  to  that 
he  so  silently  endured — and  worse. 
His  heart  rebelled  against  the  power 
of  Death ;  mine  against  the  insolent 
act  of  man. 

"During  his  lifetime  my  father, 
who  had  turned  me  over  to  the  care 
of  ignorant  slaves,  had  been  thought 
a  fit  guardian  for  me.  But  at  his 
death  a  wonderful  controversy  arose 
between  his  relatives  as  to  who  should 
have  the  responsibility  of  educating 
and  directing  the  morals  of  his  heir. 

"My  uncle,  Norton  Holmes,  the 
brother  of  my  mother,  was  appointed 
one  of  my  guardians,  and  by  some 
unaccountable  freak,  as  my  relatives 
said,  but  which  as  I  am  now  inclined 
to  think  was  a  judicious  exercise  of 
thought,  a  distant  relative,  one  Acton 
Holmes,  was  appointed  the  other. 
This  man  had  always  been  looked 
upon  as  a  sort  of  autocrat  by  all  the 


In  Bonds. 


43 


family,  not  so  much  for  his  wealth,  ex- 
tensive though  it  was,  as  because  of 
the  soundness  of  his  judgment  and  the 
even  dignity  of  his  manners,  which 
compelled  admiration,  awe,  and  es- 
teem from  even  the  most  careless  and 
irreverent.  Perhaps  the  fact  of  his 
being  unmarried,  and  the  possessor  of 
a  large  property,  had  something  to  do 
with  his  great  and  general  popularity. 
Although  he  was  but  distantly  related 
to  me,  the  fact  of  his  being  appointed 
my  guardian  would  have  occasioned 
no  remark,  had  it  not  been  well  known 
that  he  had  not  tolerated  my  father's 
eccentricities  as  others  had  done,  and 
had  even  censured  him  severely  for 
his  neglect  of  me,  and  had  not,  in- 
deed, for  years  set  his  foot  upon  the 
plantation,  or  looked  upon  my  father's 
face  until  he  lay  dead.  In  view  of  these 
circumstances,  it  was  with  justice  that 
it  was  thought  somewhat  singular  that 
I,  and  what  was  much  more  important, 
my  property,  should  be  intrusted  to 
his  care.  He  seemed  himself  some- 
what surprised  and  embarrassed  at  his 
position,  and  refrained  from  taking 
the  part  in  the  business  which  was 
natural  and  usual  with  him  in  any- 
thing in  which  he  was  concerned. 
My  uncle  settled  the  estate  much  as 
he  pleased,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
final  disposal  of  myself  was  arranged, 
that  he  said  or  did  anything  contrary 
to  my  uncle's  will. 

"He  seemed  to  have  settled  the 
matter  in  his  own  mind  beforehand, 
and  my  uncle  was  soon  surprised  out 
of  his  cherished  plan  of  having  me 
educated  in  his  own  family,  and  into 
a  reluctant  consent  that  I  should  be 
placed  at  school  at  the  north.  Acton 
Holmes  chose  Fairview  for  my  resi- 
dence, and  thither  I  was  sent. 


' '  Perhaps  you  think  that  up  to  this 
point  I  have  been  unnecessarily  dif- 
fuse, and  that  some  of  these  pages 
might  have  been  omitted.  Read  on, 
and  at  the  end  of  this  epistle  you  will 
know  why  I  place  so  much  import- 
ance upon  these  early  events  in  my 
life's  history. 

"I  was  a  little  over  eleven  years 
old  when  I  was  placed  at  the  Fairview 
Academy.  I  had  never  before,  even 
for  a  day,  been  absent  from  the  plan- 
tation upon  which  I  was  born.  I  had 
been  a  master  from  my  birth  ;  none 
ever  dared  oppose  my  will,  for  it  had 
never  clashed  with  that  of  my  father, 
and  the  slaves  he  owned  were  trained 
to  implicit  obedience  to  all  white 
people.  When  I  went  north  all  that 
was  changed.  Claude  Leveredge  was 
no  longer  the  young  master,  judicious- 
ly feared  and  implicitly  obeyed,  but  a 
child,  who  almost  lost  even  his  iden- 
tity in  a  crowd  of  boisterous,  fun- 
loving,  caste-despising  boys.  The 
change  at  first  disgusted  me,  but  I 
soon  found  that  a  master  spirit  could 
rule  in  any  place,  and  among  all 
people.  Before  long  my  power  of 
will,  illustrated  and  enforced  by  my 
strong  arm,  had  made  me  an  autocrat 
among  the  pupils,  and  even  the 
teachers,  of  Fairview. 

' '  There  were  many  there  that  feared 
me,  and  whispered  often  how  they 
hated  me ;  but  there  was  one — an  in- 
fant girl — who,  twining  her  soft  arms 
around  my  neck,  said  with  truth  : 
"Claude,  I  love  you!  I  love  you 
better  than  all  the  rest !" 

' '  I  don't  know  that  I  ever  loved 
any  one  before  ;  but  from  the  day  I 
entered  Fairview  my  heart  was  cen- 
tered in  that  little,  winsome  child. 
Her  beauty  was  to  me  like  that  of  a 


44 


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magnificent  flower,  daily  disclosing 
more  splendor  and  perfection.  Her 
gentle  arts  and  winning  ways  were  to 
my  fiery  soul,  my  sensitive  nature,  my 
often  wounded  heart,  like  a  soothing 
balm — a  magic  spell. 

"All  knew  that  I  loved  the  child, 
for  I  caressed  and  protected  her  at 
all  times,  while  to  others  I  was  a  stern 
niggard  of  my  favors  ;•  but  none  knew 
how  early  I  said  :  '  I  shall  be  a  man 
soon,  and  La  Guerita  DeCuba  shall 
be  my  wife. ' 

' '  Yet  even  in  those  early  days  pride 
kept  me  silent  concerning  her  to  all 
those  who  had  a  right  to  know  of  my 
associates.  I  think  I  never  even 
spoke  of  her  to  Acton  Holmes,  who, 
during  the  vacations  which  I  spent  at 
the  house  of  Norton  Holmes,  often 
questioned  me.  I  could  not  bear  that 
her  origin  should  be  questioned  ;  I 
believed  that  she  was  of  the  highest 
birth,  and  it  would  have  maddened 
me  had  any  one  ever  dared  to  have 
spoken  of  crime  or  shame  in  connec- 
tion with  the  child  I  loved. 

' '  DeGrey,  you  know  all  that  hap- 
pened in  succeeding  years:  how  I 
loved  her ;  how  she  promised  to  be 
mine ;  how  she  wearied  of  her  bonds ; 
how  I  broke  them,  fancying,  vain  fool 
that  I  was,  that  she  would  return  and 
rivet  them  all  the  faster ;  and  how  I 
returned  and  found  her — O  God! 
another's. 

"Perhaps  your  wife  has  laughingly 
told  you  how  I  once  said  I  would  un- 
ravel the  mystery  of  her  birth,  and  ruin 
her,  whatever  might  be  her  origin. 
Her  ruin  meant  that  of  the  man  who 
had  defrauded  me. 

"I  began  my  work  very  quietly. 
No  foolish  words,  uttered  in  moments 
of  madness,  revealed  the  fixed  pur- 


pose of  my  soul.  Silence  is  the  birth- 
place of  thought ;  thought  the  parent 
of  action.  I  knew  that  truism  well, 
and  bound  my  once  unruly  member 
with  the  thongs  of  hatred  and  revenge. 

' '  Until  I  had  discovered  the  origin 
of  La  Guerita  DeCuba,  I  could  only 
blindly  hope  for  vengeance.  No  plan 
for  obtaining  it  presented  itself  to  me. 
Naturally,  my  first  act  was  to  go  to 
Cuba.  For  months  I  stayed  there, 
stealthily  working  my  way,  going  into 
the  highest  families,  employing  all 
sorts  of  characters  to  ferret  out  private 
histories,  and  expending  thousands  in 
a  search  that  proved  in  vain. 

' '  An  insane  desire  to  see  La  Gue- 
rita once  more,  and  learn  from  her 
face  whether  she  was  happy  or  not, 
impelled  me  once  to  visit  Ellisville. 
I  think  part  of  my  desire  for  ven- 
geance would  have  been  satisfied  had 
you  wearied  of  your  lovely  bride, 
and  proved  to  her  that  love  was  in- 
deed the  ephemeral  thing  that  hers 
had  been  to  me.  But  I  knew  by  one 
glance  into  her  eyes,  by  the  few  words 
she  chanced  to  utter  in  my  hearing, 
that  your  tenderness  for  her  had  never 
failed,  and  that  the  truest  peace  and 
happiness  marked  the  life  that  had 
cursed  mine. 

"Yes,  she  was  happy  ;  and  I —  ? 
The  misery  at  my  heart — the  mad- 
ness of  my  brain  drove  me  again  to 
Cuba — to  my  unfinished  task.  But 
it  daily  grew  heavier  with  sickening 
doubts  and  disappointments,  and  it 
was  with  a  sigh  of  relief  I  received  a 
message  from  Uncle  Norton  sum- 
moning me  to  the  side  of  our  dying 
cousin,  Acton  Holmes. 

' '  Some  words  of  his  had  once  in- 
duced me  to  believe  that  he  knew  of 
my  hopeless  passion.  But  I  made  a 


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45 


confidant  of  no  man,  and  that  he 
could  have  aught  to  say  to  me  upon 
the  matter,  never  once  entered  my 
mind,  even  while  I  wondered  at  the 
urgent  message  that  he  had  forwarded 
to  me. 

' '  Though  I  traveled  with  all  speed, 
he  died  two  days  before  I  reached 
home.  They  told  me  he  had  died 
in  an  agony  of  mind  at  not  seeing 
me,  yet  he  left  no  message,  even  of 
farewell.  I  looked  upon  the  still, 
dead  face  of  my  cousin,  with  more 
grief  than  I  had  ever  felt  before,  for 
I  knew  that  no  other  man  had  showed 
toward  the  neglected  orphan,  such 
tenderness  as  he. 

"I  went  from  the  grave  yard,  where 
they  laid  him  upon  the  very  day  of 
my  arrival,  to  the  house  of  Norton 
Holmes  ;  and  as  we  sat  alone  after 
dinner,  our  conversation  naturally 
turned  on  him  who  was  silent  for- 
ever. 

' '  '  He  was  a  genial  man, '  said  I, 
after  some  desultory  talk,  '  'tis  strange 
that  he  never  married. ' 

' '  '  Yes,  truly, '  answered  my  uncle 
with  a  laugh.  '  There  are  not  many 
men  that  would  condemn  themselves 
to  perpetual  celibacy  for  the  sake  of 
a  handsome  girl  of  the  class  one 
usually  looks  upon  as  without  con- 
science as  well  as  power. ' 

' '  I  looked  at  him  inquiringly,  and 
perceiving  my  evident  astonishment 
and  ignorance,  he  said  :  '  I  forgot 
you  were  but  a  child  when  the  matter 
occurred,  and  even  if  you  had  not 
been,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  you 
would  have  heard  of  it,  for  Acton 
Holmes  was  not  one  to  talk  of  his 
follies,  or  boast  of  his  vices. ' 

' '  '  What  do  you  know  of  his  fol- 
lies or  vices,  uncle/  said  I,  rather 


anxious  to  know  more  of  the  private 
life  of  one  who  had  in  public  display- 
ed unwavering  uprightness  and  virtue. 
'  What  do  you  know  about  either  ;  I 
supposed  he  was  utterly  free  from 
them  ?' 

"  'And  I  might  have  thought  so 
too, '  he  returned,  '  but  for  a  walk 
our  respected  aunt  Matilda  once  took, 
and  a  discovery  she  made  upon  that 
occasion.  The  plantation  of  our 
deceased  relative  is,  as  you  know, 

bounded  on  one  side  by  the  Y 

river,  and  on  the  banks  of  that  stream. 
Aunt  Matilda  came  upon  a  garden  of 
choicest  flowers,  in  the  midst  of  which 
stood  a  lovely  cottage,  and  upon  the 
porch,  with  a  little  babe  upon  her 
bosom,  stood  a  woman  of  queenly 
stature  and  wondrous  beauty  ;  at  her 
side  sat  Acton  Holmes,  with  a  boy 
upon  his  knee,  whose  face  was  the 
counterpart  of  his  own. ' 

' '  DeGrey  you  know  whom  these 
children  were. 

[The  paper  dropped  from  the 
trembling  fingers  of  La  Guerita,  and 
a  low  moan — "  O  God  !  O  God  ! " 
broke  from  her  ashen  lips.  ' '  But  it 
cannot,  cannot  be  !  "  she  cried,  and 
with  lightning  rapidity  read  on  to  the 
end  of  the  fatal  letter.  ] 

"  WThat  was  there  in  this  history  of 
my  cousin's  love  to  fill  my  brain  with 
fire — my  heart  with  ice  ?  for  even 
then  I  could  not  entertain  the  sup- 
position that  rushed  over  me.  But 
with  strained  ears  that  caught  every 
intonation  of  his  voice,  I  listened  as 
my  uncle  continued  : 

' ' '  Our  aunt  Matilda  being  a  pru- 
dent woman  remained  a  silent  spec- 
tator of  the  scene,  and,  justly  fearing 
Acton's  wrath,  withdrew  without  dis- 
covering herself,  and  with  the  secret 


46 


In   Bonds. 


determination  of  keeping  her  own 
counsel  for  a  time  at  least. 

' '  '  But  such  secrets  do  not  remain 
sacred  long,  and,  ere  long,  whisper- 
ings were  heard  that  a  beautiful  quad- 
roon had  accompanied  Acton  Holmes 
from  Cuba  some  years  before,  and 
was  the  mistress  of  that  lovely  cot- 
tage. 

1 l  l  When  the  whisperings  were 
loudest,  Acton  Holmes  suddenly  dis- 
appeared ;  for  a  year  or  more  nothing 
was  seen  or  heard  of  him,  and  as  the 
cottage  was  empty  it  was  generally 
supposed  he  had  taken  the  woman 
and  children  with  him  ;  but  before 

long  she  appeared  at  W ,  with 

free  papers  in  her  hands.  Beautiful 
still,  but  broken-hearted,  people  said, 
and  they  called  her  Dolores,  though 
it  is  said  her  lover  had  ever  named 
her  La  Guerita  DeCuba — the  fair  one 
of  Cuba. ' 

[She  who  read  these  lines  seemed 
turned  to  stone,  so  awfully  calm  was 
she  even  when  she  read  the  bitter 
words  of  scorn  that  followed  the  his- 
tory of  her  birth.  ] 

' '  DeGrey  you  know  all  that  I  dis- 
covered, as  my  uncle  dreamily  told 
this  bit  of  scandal,  and  moralized,  as 
the  living  will,  upon  the  career  of  the 
dead.  I  know  not  how  I  looked 
then,  but  fortunately  the  friendly 
dusk  was  there  to  hide  me.  I  felt  as 
if  turned  to  stone  ;  I  could  not  speak 
or  move,  but  only  think — think  that 
La  Guerita  DeCuba — she,  whom  I 
had  loved — she,  who  had  scorned  me 
— she,  a  fancied  princess,  was  the 
daughter  of  a  bond-woman. 

"  I  know  you  will  not  doubt  what 
I  have  written,  but  if  you  seek  proof, 
visit  the  place  from  which  this  is 
dated,  and  learn  from  a  hundred  lips, 


from  Norton  Holmes,  from  a  laun- 
dress— Dolores,  the  truth  of  what  I 
have  written. 

' '  DeGrey,  my  revenge  is  sweet — 
sweeter  than  I  ever  dared  hope  it 
could  be.  Yet  my  task  is  not  ended 
until  the  whole  world  shall  point 
with  shame  and  scorn  to  him  who 
shares  the  fortunes  of  the  slave-born 
woman,  La  Guerita  DeCuba. 

' '  CLAUDE  LEVEREDGE.  " 

Thus  ended  the  strange  epistle. 
La  Guerita  turned  again  to  the  begin- 
ning and  read  the  date.  ' '  W , 

N.  Carolina,  May  loth,  1859." 

There,  then,  Harold  had  been. 
There  where  the  story  of  her  shame 
was  known.  There  the  cruel  darts 
of  scandal  had  pierced  his  heart. 

She  sat  for  hours  before  the  slowly- 
dying  fire,  not  thinking  of  her  shat- 
tered hopes,  her  fallen  aspirations, 
nor  of  him  who  had  robbed  her  life 
of  all  its  joys — but  of  her  shame  ! 
That  shame  which  had  killed  her 
husband,  and  would  live  in  her  in- 
nocent children.  Some  pages  of  the 
letter  she  read  again.  A  needless 
task,  for  a  pen  of  adamant  could  not 
have  engraven  words  more  deeply 
than  were  these  upon  her  tortured 
brain.  Yet  she  read  them,  again  and 
again,  bending  over  at  last  and  ful- 
filling her  husband's  forgotten  task — 
consigning  to  the  flames  the  secret 
she  should  never  have  known. 

Then  she  arose  and  left  the  room, 
feeling  conscious  that  she  would  sink 
beneath  the  weight  that  had  come 
upon  her.  She  went  up-stairs  to  her 
own  room,  and  sunk  upon  the  bed 
on  which  her  husband  had  died. 
From  that  moment  reason  fled  ;  she 
lay  as  upon  surging  billows,  and  sank 


In  Bonds. 


47 


down,  down,  down,  into  cold,  slimy 
caves,  where  gleams  from  the  eyes  of 
ocean  monsters  threw  rays  of  gold 
and  crimson  through  the  black 
depths.  Out  of  the  crevices  of  rocks 
and  the  bosoms  of  giant  shells,  and 
from  under  the  floating  arms  of  sea- 
weed, crept  hideous  demons  toward 
her — gliding  serpents,  and  scorpions 
swift  as  light.  They  floated  and 
crept  around  her  with  horrible  hisses 
and  meanings,  and  eyes  that  glared 
with  fury  and  hate.  And  she  heard 
in  the  meanings  and  hisses  the  voice 
— and  saw  in  serpents  and  scorpions 
the  eyes — the  basilisk  eyes  of  Claude 
Leveredge. 

CHAPTER   IX. 

"  The  outward,  wayward  life  we  see — 
The  hidden  springs  we  may  not  know  ; 
Nor  is  it  given  us  to  discern 
What  threads  the  fatal  sisters  spun  ; 
Through  what  ancestral  years  has  run 
The  sorrow  with  the  woman  born ; 
What  forged  her  cruel  chain  of  moods — 
What  set  her  feet  in  solitudes; 
What  held  the  love  within  her  mute. 

*  *  *  *  * 

It  is  not  ours  to  separate 
The  tangled  skein  of  will  and  fate." 

Whittier's  "  Snow  Bound." 

To  La  Guerita  a  lifetime  seemed 
passed  in  those  gloomy  caves.  Some- 
times the  waves  parted,  and  for  a  mo- 
ment she  saw  afar  off  forms  of  light 
and  beauty  ;  when,  again,  the  waters 
closing  over  her,  even  the  remem- 
brance of  the  light  would  fade  from 
her  mind,  and  the  terrors  of  the  hor- 
rible, in  which  she  was  immured,  re- 
turn, peopled  with  new  and  still 
more  fantastic  objects.  At  last  came 
a  time  when  the  demons,  and  ser- 
pents, and  slimy,  creeping  things, 
one  by  one,  left  her,  and  fitful  gleams 
of  sunshine  darted  into  the  loathsome 
caves,  the  dark  walls  of  which  slow- 


ly took  the  semblance  of  a  chamber 
at  Enola.  Gradually,  and  without 
any  violent  shock,  consciousness  re- 
turned to  her;  and  one  day,  open- 
ing her  eyes,  after  a  quiet  sleep,  she 
found  herself  in  a  darkened  room, 
with  Harold's  mother  leaning  over 
her. 

' '  Mother — dear  mother, "  she  said  ; 
and  that  instant  was  clasped  to  the 
heart  of  Mrs.  DeGrey,  and  greeted 
with  tears  and  kisses,  while  a  cry  of 
joy  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  only 
other  occupant  of  the  room — a  beau- 
tiful young  girl,  with  large,  blue  eyes, 
that  shone  with  joy  as  she  threw  her 
long,  fair  curls  back  from  her  face, 
and  bent  to  kiss  the  sufferer. 

' '  Thank  God,  you  are  better, "  she 
whispered  ;  ' '  this  will  be  good  news 
for  Thornton,  and  for  all.  The  time 
has  seemed  so  long. " 

' '  How  long  have  I  been  here  ?" 
asked  La  Guerita,  wearily. 

' '  Ten  days,  my  darling, "  answered 
Mrs.  DeGrey ;  ' '  but  hush,  now, 
love  ;  you  must  not  talk  for  a  day  or 
two." 

' '  No — no  ;  I  will  not ;  only  tell 
me,  are  my  children  well  ? " 

Carrie  Leslie  turned  aside  her  head, 
and  Mrs.  DeGrey,  with  difficulty,  re- 
strained some  sudden  emotion. 

' '  What  has  happened  ? "  cried  La 
Guerita;  "tell  me — tell  me,  is  Har- 
old gone  ? — is  Harold  gone  ? " 

"No,  dearest !  no  !"  returned  Mrs. 
DeGrey,  soothingly;  "little  Harold 
is  quite  safe. " 

"And  Althea?" 

"My  daughter,  the  little  one  is 
dead." 

"Dead!  dead!"  It  was  all  she 
said,  yet  the  word  was  a  very  wail  of 
agony. 


In  Bonds. 


"We  were  afraid  to  tell  her,"  said 
Carrie  Leslie  to  her  brother,  a  few 
weeks  later,  ' '  for  Althea  had  seemed 
the  best  loved  of  her  children ;  yet 
she  never  even  wept  for  it ;  nor  did 
she  say  :  '  God's  will  be  done ! ' " 

"She  could  not,"  said  Thornton, 
gravely  ;  "  she  lives  with  an  undying 
sorrow  in  her  heart ;  these  were  Vic- 
tor's last  words  to  me  as  we  parted  at 
the  gate,  the  night  the  will  was  read. 
Poor  fellow !  he  is  nearly  heart-broken 
to  see  her  so  changed.  It  is  dread- 
ful, Carrie !  Though  Harold  has 
been  dead  nearly  six  weeks,  she  has 
never  mentioned  his  name  or  raised 
her  head. " 

' '  Poor  thing  ! "  said  Carrie ;  ' '  and 
doesn't  it  seem  a  strange  thing  to  be 
able  to  pity  the  proud  Mrs.  DeGrey  ? 
I  had  a  note  from  her  to-day,  begging 
me  to  come  to  her ;  she  would  not 
see  me  the  last  time  I  was  there. " 

' '  Don't  fail  to  go, "  said  her  broth- 
er ;  ' '  you  must  try  to  fill  a  sister's 
place  toward  her.  I  consider  Har- 
old's last  charge  to  me  gives  a  new 
duty  to  the  whole  family,  while,  of 
course,  your  relation  to  Fabean 

Carrie  interrupted  him,  pettishly  : 
1 '  Don't  harp  upon  that,  Thornton  ; 
it  is  a  ridiculous  affair  altogether. 
Consider  your  own  duties,  as  one  of 
Harold's  guardians,  as  much  as  you 
please,  and,  pray,  leave  me  to  attend 
to  mine." 

Her  brother  turned  upon  her  a 
searching  glance.  ' '  Do  you  remem- 
ber, Carrie,  what  I  said  to  you  a  short 
time  ago  ? "  he  asked. 

She  colored  angrily,  biting  her  lips, 
poutingly,  as  she  replied  :  ' '  Yes  ;  I 
remember  very  well,  and  I  consider, 
Thornton,  that  it  was  really  cruel  of 
you  to  place  me  in  such  a  state  of  un- 


certainty ;  you  all  knew  that  there 
was  some  mystery  about  Fabean's 
birth  when  you  were  so  eager  for  our 
engagement. " 

' '  I  was  a  romantic  boy  then, "  said 
Thornton,  sadly  ;  ' '  happy  myself, 
and  anxious  that  my  friend  and  sis- 
ter should  be.  You  know  I  had  no 
meaner  thought ;  but,  pshaw !  'tis 
wasting  time  to  talk  to  you  of  that. 
Be  a  reasonable  girl,  Carrie,  and  re- 
member that  'circumstances  alter 
cases/" 

Carrie  laughed  scornfully.  '' '  Yes, 
the  circumstance  of  his  receiving  but 
a  paltry  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  no 
hint  of  more,  instead  of  a  princely 
fortune  upon  attaining  his  majoriry, 
altered  this  case  ! "  she  cried. 

' '  You  are  wrong, "  returned  her 
brother,  firmly ;  '  <  and  I  tell  you 
now,  it  is  time  for  us  all  to  lay  aside 
romantic  fancies,  and  especially  for 
you  to  cast  off  the  flimsy  pretense  of 
loving  Fabean  DeCuba." 

' '  You  are  dreadfully  cruel ! "  cried 
Carrie,  bursting  into  tears ;  ' '  you 
are  actually  insulting,  sir !  actually 
insulting  ! " 

"It  is  two  o'clock,"  said  Thorn- 
ton, quietly,  glancing  at  his  watch  ; 
' '  what  time  are  you  going  to  Mrs. 
DeGrey's,  Caroline  ? ". 

f '  Now, "  she  sobbed  ;  ' '  and  I  wish 
I  could  always  stay  there  ;  I  like  Fa- 
bean  DeCuba  as  well  as  you  love 


Her  brother  put  his  hand  on  her 
mouth.  "No,  no,  Carrie;  I  have 
your  other  confession,  you  know. 
Come,  come,  give  me  a  kiss  before 
you  go ;  you  know  I  always  mean 
well.  Pity  it  is  that  one  has  to  speak 
to  you  harshly  to  convince  you  of  it. " 

But  she  broke  from  him  angrily, 


In  Bonds. 


49 


and  a  few  minutes  later,  still  vexed 
and  excited,  entered  the  parlor  of 
Enola. 

La  Guerita  was  there,  for  the  first 
time  in  many  weeks,  and  Carrie 
Leslie  joyously  uttered  some  pretty 
phrases  of  congratulation,  wonder- 
ing, at  the  same  time,  how  such  a 
beautiful  young  widow  could  wear 
such  a  ' '  horrid,  horrid  cap ! " 

' '  You  think  I  look  very  thin  and 
pale,  no  doubt,*'  said  La  Guerita, 
faintly,  construing  Carrie's  glance 
into  one  of  pity  for  her  weak  state, 
rather  than  her  poor  taste ;  ' '  yes, 
yes  ;  no  doubt  I  am  terrible  to  look 
upon  ;  but  it  is  no  matter  now — no 
matter. " 

"Oh,  don't  say  that!"  exclaimed 
Carrie  ;  ' '  you  are  only  a  little  pale, 
and  you  never  had  much  color,  you 
know ;  I  really  think  you  look  love- 
ly, and  the  ruffles  of  that  dress  are 
sweet.  I  remember  when  I  was  in 
mourning  ;  but  I  beg  your  pardon  ; 
I  didn't  mean  to  make  you  feel 
badly." 

"It  is  nothing, "  said  La  Guerita, 
smoothing  away  the  spasm  that  had 
contracted  her  brow  ;  ' '  but  I  am  not 
strong,  Carrie  ;  yet,  with  all  my  weak- 
ness, I  cannot  die. " 

' '  Die  !  I  should  think  not ;  why 
should  you  ?  Dear  me,  I  should  be 
very,  very  sorry,  and  so  would  Fabean 
and  all  the  rest.  Oh,  dear  me,  yes  ! " 

' '  Fabean,  Fabean  ! "  said  La  Gue- 
rita, softly  ;  ' '  O,  Carrie,  do  you  love 
poor  Fabean  ? " 

The  question  was  totally  unexpect- 
ed, and,  confused  and  annoyed,  Car- 
rie answered  testily  :  "I  declare,  I 
don't  know ;  I  suppose  so. " 

' '  And  would  it  break  your  heart 
not  to  marry  him  ? " 
7 


Carrie  laughed  with  irrepressible 
amusement.  ' '  The  idea  ! "  she  ex- 
claimed ;  ' '  what  would  mamma  say 
to  that !  The  idea  of  the  heart  of 
any  well-regulated  young  lady  being 
broken ;  but,  indeed, "  she  added, 
suddenly  growing  grave  and  haugh- 
ty, "I  cannot  see  what  right  you 
have  to  question  me  in  that  way. 
Has  Fabean  asked  you  to  do  so  ?  Is 
he  tired  of  me  ? " 

' '  I  cannot  tell,  Carrie ;  yet  I  al- 
most hope  so.  But,  Carrie,  Carrie, 
even  if  he  loves  you  with  more  than 
earthly  devotion,  I  beg — I  pray  you 
not  to  marry  him  ! " 

She  spoke  in  pleading  accents ; 
she — the  proud  woman — actually 
bent  in  suppliant  form  before  that 
thoughtless  young  girl,  and  cried, 
again  and  again  :  ' '  Promise  me, 
Carrie,  that  you  will  not  marry  him. " 

The  impulsive  girl,  awed  and  thrill- 
ed by  the  passionately  spoken  words, 
threw  herself  on  her  knees  beside  La 
Guerita,  and  cried  : 

' '  Why  must  I  not  many  Fabean  ? 
Who  and  what  is  he  ?  I  know  that 
you  can  tell  me. " 

' '  No,  I  will  not  tell  you, "  she  cried, 
shudderingly  ;  "I  cannot  tell  you. " 

' '  Oh,  then  you  only  ask  me  to  re- 
sign your  brother  because  you  dislike 
me,"  retorted  Carrie,  with  sudden 
willfulness ;  "I  am  not  going  to 
give  up  Fabean  for  any  whim  of 
yours  ;  I  will  marry  him. " 

"O,  Carrie,  you  must  not — yon 
shall  not !  "  exclaimed  La  Guerita  ; 
"you  shall  not  be  like  the  miserable 
creature  you  see  before  you  to-day. " 

"Of  course,  I  shall  not  be, "inter- 
rupted Carrie ;  "do  I  look  as  if  I 
should  ever  mope  myself  to  death  ? 
No,  indeed  ;  I  shall  marry  Fabean. " 


5° 


In   Bonds. 


La  Guerita  caught  her  in  her  arms. 
' '  You  are  not  worthy  of  my  care, " 
she  exclaimed  ;  ' '  yet  I  love  you — I 
will  save  you.  Swear  never  to  breathe 
to  any  mortal  what  I  am  about  to  say 
— swear  and  I  will  save  you  ;  swear, 
swear,  for  Fabean's  sake — for  your 
own  ! " 

"I  —  I'd  rather  not,"  muttered 
Carrie,  with  ludicrous  indecision ; 
' '  somebody  might  ask  me  about  it, 
and  how  could  I  help  telling ;  yet  I 
would  like  to  know  what  your  secret 
is. " 

1 '  Four  words  would  tell  you.  Oh, 
swear  never  to  repeat  them — never  to 
breathe  to  mortal  the  secret  they  re- 
veal. " 

Carrie  Leslie  was  awed  by  the 
burning  glances  fixed  upon  her — by 
the  rigid  hand  which  held  her  own, 
and  by  the  thrillingly  spoken  words. 

"Indeed,  I  will  swear,"  she  said  ; 
"I  will  never,  never  let  any  one 
know  what  you  are  going  to  say  to 
me." 

La  Guerita  bent  forward.  "Lis- 
ten ! "  she  said  ;  ' '  hear  all  our 
shame — Fabean's  and  mine,  Carrie ; 

WE  WERE  BORN  SLAVES  !  " 

For  once  amazement  held  Carrie 
Leslie  dumb.  La  Guerita  repeated 
her  words  :  ' '  We  were  born  slaves  !" 

Ah,  what  bitter  meaning  they  had 
to  her.  If  she  could  but  have  known 
how  much  lower  were  the  emotions 
they  aroused  in  the  young  girl  that 
knelt  beside  her. 

"I  can't  believe  it,"  she  said  at 
first ;  ' '  you  are  trying  to  humble  me, 
Mrs.  DeGrey.  Do  you  suppose  I 
could  have  married  Fabean  if  he  had 
been  a  slave?  Ugh,  the  low-born 
creatures  !  " 

' '  Alas !   Carrie,  it  is  true. " 


Carrie  burst  into  tears  of  indigna- 
tion. ' '  Then,  Mrs.  DeGrey,  I  con- 
sider that  we  have  all  been  shame- 
fully imposed  upon.  The  idea  of 
you  and  Fabean  having  been  born 
slaves,  and,  just  as  like  as  not,  your 
father  and  mother  not  even  married  ; 
and  your  brother  having  the  pre- 
sumption to  want  to  marry  me  ;  it  is 
shameful !  " 

La  Guerita  quailed  before  this  girl's 
weak  wrath  and  contempt,  as  if  in 
her  puny  voice  was  concentrated  all 
the  contempt  of  millions.  "  I  hear 
the  voice  of  the  world,"  she  said, 
"and,  O,  Fabean,  Fabean,  I  have 
given  it  into  this  girl's  power  to  hurl 
such  scorn  at  thee  !  " 

She  felt  as  if  she  could  silence  for- 
ever the  indignant  young  beauty — 
the  vain,  pettish  child  she  had,  in  her 
passionate  eagerness,  made  her  con- 
fidant. The  next  moment  she  felt 
the  weak  creature's  arms  around  her, 
and  her  tears  upon  her  cheek,  while 
she  sobbed  out : 

"Indeed,  I  am  very,  very  sorry, 
though  I  couldn't  help  being  a  little 
angry  at  first.  Of  course,  I  can't  mar- 
ry Fabean,  but  you  will  forgive  me 
for  that,  wont  you.  I  hope  he  wont 
feel  very  badly,  but,  of  course,  he 
will  see  I  couldn't  carry  out  my  en- 
gagement when  he  knows  all. " 

"But  he  must  never  know,"  cried 
La  Guerita,  in  affright ;  ' '  you  have 
given  me  your  solemn  oath  not  to 
disclose  what  I  have  said. " 

"And  I  never  will,  you  may  be 
quite  sure,"  said  Carrie,  quite  pa- 
tronizingly. ' '  Dear  me,  I  am  quite 
upset  for  the  day ;  I  never  had  such 
a  shock  before  in  all  my  life.  What 
an  escape  I  have  had,  to  be  sure  ;  I 
feel  so  perturbed ;  I  think,  if  you 


In  Bonds. 


will  excuse  me,  I  will  say  my  prayers ; 
I  remember  that  when  anything  used 
to  fret  me,  mamma  always  used  to 
tell  me  to  say  my  prayers,  and  it  used 
to  do  me  so  much  good. " 

She  left  the  room  and  entered  the 
library.  In  a  short  time  she  reap- 
peared, with  traces  of  tears  upon  her 
cheeks,  and  said,  very  sweetly  : 

"I  feel  so  much  better.  Dear  me, 
it  is  such  a  comfort  to  be  able  to  put 
off  one's  grief  in  that  way  ;  I  really 
didn't  think  I  could  bear  my  burden, 
before  I  had  laid  it  at  the  throne  of 
God." 

' '  He  helps  those  who  have  but 
little  to  bear, "  answered  La  Guerita, 
gazing  upon  her  with  stony  eyes. 

"O,  dear  me,  how  can  you  say 
so ! "  exclaimed  Carrie,  as  much 
shocked  at  wrhat  appeared  to  her 
most  unrefined  heresy  as  she  could 
be  at  anything  ;  ' '  don't  you  remem- 
ber what  Dr.  Alston  says  every  Sun- 
day? Why,  Mrs.  DeGrey,  I  don't 
believe  you  trust  in  God,  or  that  you 
have  any  faith  !  " 

"I  had  once,"  returned  the  wid- 
ow ;  "I  used  to  think  He  would 
help  me  in  time  of  trouble — that  He 
would  give  me  happiness  ;  I  used  to 
pray  to  Him,  as  you  do  ;  but  how 
has  He  answered  me?  Has  He  not 
pressed  cups  of  gall  and  wormwood 
to  my  lips — taken  from  me  all  my 
pleasant  things?  My  faith  was  in 
vain — my  prayers  have  been  fruit- 
less !  He  has  given  me  darkness 
for  light,  and  desolation  for  hap- 
piness ! " 

Carrie  Leslie  listened  helplessly, 
feeling  that  the  mind  of  her  friend 
was  in  a  most  unhallowed  state,  yet 
knowing  not  how  to  make  it  better. 
She  quoted  some  common-place 


phrases  of  advice  and  consolation, 
meaning  well,  but  accomplishing 
nothing,  and  soon  arose  to  depart. 
Then,  as  if  again  seized  by  sudden 
dread,  La  Guerita  clasped  her  in  her 
arms,  and  held  her  there  until  she 
had  promised  again  and  again  never 
to  reveal  a  word  of  what  had  been 
told  her. 

She  was  glad,  at  last,  to  escape  ; 
and  as  she  walked  hurriedly  down 
the  garden  path  La  Guerita  looked 
after  her  with  a  bitter  smile,  saying  to 
herself:  "That  girl  is  not  a  hypo- 
crite ;  that  prayer  she  breathed  com- 
forted her.  Ah,  a  thousand  prayers 
would  not  comfort  me.  I  know  now 
what  Christianity  is ;  what  a  belief  in 
a  merciful  God  is — a  delusion  to  stay- 
weak  minds !  Nothing  more  !  noth- 
ing more  !" 

These  words  she  bitterly  repeated 
as  she  saw  Carrie  Leslie  greet  Victor 
DeGrey  at  the  gate,  and  smile  in  an- 
swer to  some  remark,  then  place  her 
hand  upon  his  arm,  and  walk  with 
him  up  the  shady  road. 

Carrie  Leslie  had  hastily  resolved 
to  keep  her  intention  of  breaking  her 
engagement  a  secret  until  the  deed 
was  actually  accomplished,  but  some- 
thing impelled  her  then  to  make  a 
confidant  of  Victor  DeGrey,  and  with 
many  blushes  and  a  few  tears  she 
made  the  confession  most  adroitly, 
without  ever  meaning  falsehood ;  in- 
timated that  La  Guerita  had  opposed 
the  match,  for  her  pride  revolted  from 
the  idea  of  it  being  known  to  any  one, 
that  aught  but  her  own  free  will  had 
induced  her  to  resign  her  lover.  Yet 
she  sought  to  impress  upon  the  mind 
of  Victor  that  she  was  performing  a 
duty,  not  a  fickle  caprice ;  and  though 
suprised,  and  almost  offended  with 


In  Bonds. 


the  young  girl  for  thus  casting  aside 
one  whom  he  had  for  years  loved  as 
a  brother,  he  was  well  satisfied  that 
for  once,  at  least,  she  acted  from  some 
deeper  motives  than  mere  impulse. 

What  it  was  he  did  not  inquire.  If 
he  had,  how  much  sorrow  and  tribu- 
lation might  have  been  averted,  for 
Carrie  Leslie  would  not  have  kept  her 
secret  then.  But,  knowing  nothing 
of  the  importance  of  his  words,  he 
only  gravely  said  : 

' '  Perhaps  it  is  all  for  the  best.  It 
may  be  that  you  are  not  intended  for 
each  other."  And  in  fancy  Fabean 
stood  before  him,  as  he  had  once 
done  in  reality,  with  a  tiny,  delicate 
creature  hanging  upon  his  arm,  and 
though  her  eyes  were  blue  and  her 
hair  golden,  they  were  not  like  those 
of  Carrie  Leslie. 

Thornton  met  them  at  the  gate  of 
Mrs.  Leslie's  garden,  and  as  the  even- 
ing was  fine,  they  strolled  on.  Nei- 
ther of  them  felt  in  a  lightsome  mood  ; 
and  as  they  walked  on  the  shore  and 
watched  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide, 
they  spoke  of  solemn  things,  and  at 
last  of  the  dead  Harold  DeGrey  and 
his  widow  and  child. 

"  After  Mrs.  DeGrey's  severe  ill- 
ness, "  remarked  Thornton,  ' '  I  was 
surprised  to  hear  she  had  so  soon  left 
her  room.  Dr.  Marsh  told  me  he 
thought  for  several  days  she  would 
never  rise  from  her  bed  again.  In- 
deed, I  know  he  had  but  little  more 
hope  for  her  than  he  had  for  Harold 
in  his  extremity. " 

' '  Harold's  illness  has  always  been 
a  great  mystery  to  me, "  said  Victor  ; 
' '  or  rather,  I  may  say,  the  result  of  it 
is  a  great  mystery  to  me.  It  was 
mental,  not  physical,  suffering  that 
killed  him  ;  of  that  I  am  convinced. 


But  what  could  have  occasioned  that 
suffering?  Oh,  I  would  give  the 
world  to  know  ! " 

"Or  so  much  of  it  as  you  pos- 
sess, "  said  Carrie,  with  a  slight  laugh, 
keeping  the  secret  that  she  held  only 
from  a  perverse  feeling  that,  by  doing 
so,  she  became  at  once  superior  in 
knowledge  to  her  companions. 

' '  Has  it  never  occurred  to  you, " 
said  Thornton,  reproving  his  sister's 
frivolity  with  a  glance,  and  speaking 
with  hesitation ;  ' '  Has  it  never  occur- 
red to  you  that  Harold  had  obtained 
some  knowledge  of  his  wife's  ante- 
cedents ?  We  have  never  been  able 
to  learn  the  object  or  direction  of  his 
last  journey.  Is  it  not  probable  that 
it  was  taken  on  La  Guerita's  account, 
and  that  he  purposely  baffled  curi- 
osity ? " 

"It  must  be  so,"  returned  Victor, 
,in.  perplexity ;  ' '  yet  I  must  confess  I 
never  thought  so  before.  It  must  be 
so  !  Yet  if  Harold  gained  any  pain- 
ful secret,  that  in  no  way  accounts  for 
La  Guerita's  extreme  melancholy,  for 
he  would  not  have  imparted  it  to  her. 
Poor  creature,  her  grief  seems  almost 
to  partake  of  the  character  of  mad- 
ness. I  long  for  Fabean's  arrival  ; 
that  may  change  the  current  of  her 
thoughts. " 

"Poor  fellow,"  sighed  Carrie,  "  I 
fear  he  will  not  find  Ellisville  so 
pleasant  as  usual. " 

"Of  course,  he  will  not,"  ejacu- 
lated Thornton,  impatiently,  "his 
sister's  dejection  will  render -that  im- 
possible. " 

"  I  presume  Miss  Carrie  alluded  to 
something  else,"  said  Victor,  slightly 
contemptuously. 

Thornton  Leslie  turned  toward  his 
sister  with  a  quick,  nervous  start, 


In  Bonds. 


53 


instantly   divining    the    meaning   of 
Victor's  words. 

"Yes,"  ejaculated  Carrie,  inter- 
preting his  searching  glance,  ' '  I  have 
decided  to  oblige  you  ; "  adding,  with 
a  sudden  perverse  impulse,  ' '  But  I 
have  not  done  so  to  oblige  you, 
Thornton,  any  more  than  you  would 
be  likely  to  give  up  la  belle  Southron 
to  gratify  me. " 

Thornton  colored ;  Victor  whistled, 
and  executed  the  expressive  panto- 
mime of  putting  a  ring  upon  an  imag- 
inary finger  and  a  cross  upon  the 
back  of  his  friend,  at  the  same  time 
ejaculating  ' '  Caught ! " 

Thornton  looked  at  his  sister  re- 
proachfully, but  she  was  in  no  mood 
to  heed  his  frowns,  and  cried  : 

"  It  is  all  very  well  for  you  to  stand 
there,  signing  for  me  to  stop.  But  I 
wont  do  it.  I'll  say  just  what  I 
please;  so  that  if  her  cousin  does 
succeed  in  keeping  you  apart,  every- 
body that  cares  about  it  may  know 
that  mine  are  not  the  only  matrimo- 
nial plans  that  have  miscarried. " 

1 '  You  are  a  very  foolish  girl,  Car- 
rie, "  said  her  brother,  severely ;  while 
Victor  stood  by,  undecided  whether 
to  leave  or  attempt  to  reconcile  the 
disputants. 

' '  O,  no  doubt  I  am  a  foolish  girl ! " 
retorted  Carrie,  stamping  her  little  foot 
into  the  yielding  sand ;  "I  have  been 
an  obstinate  girl  lately,  and  a  strange 
girl,  too ;  and  now  that  I  have  be- 
come a  yielding  and  an  ordinary  girl, 
I  am,  of  course,  a  foolish  girl. "  After 
which  she  proved  herself  at  least  an 
ordinary  girl  by  bursting  into  tears 
and  sobbing  out  that  she  wanted  to 
do  right,  but  she  was  not  quite  sure 
whether  La  Guerita  even  thought  she 
had  done  so. 


Hastening  to  his  sister's  side, 
Thornton  soothed  her  as  one  might 
an  ailing  child.  But  though  she 
wiped  away  her  tears,  her  mood  re- 
mained the  same,  and  all  were  glad 
when  the  walk  was  ended. 

Victor  left  the  brother  and  sister  at 
their  door,  and  walked  slowly  in  the 
direction  of  his  own  home,  leaving 
Enola,  in  which  a  few  lights  already 
shone,  some  distance  to  the  left,  look- 
ing with  troubled  eyes  to  the  upper 
windows,  and  saying  to  himself  : 

"There  is  a  light  in  La  Guerita's 
window,  perhaps  she  is  retiring  ;  I 
will  not  go  in  to-night  —  to-morrow 
will  do  as  well.  Poor  girl  !  poor  girl  ! 
She  will  never  be  the  same  again. 
O,  good  God  !  what  a  trial  has  come 
upon  us.  If  I  could  but  know,  as 
Harold  did,  what  curse  came  with  her 
into  the  family  !  If  I  could  even 
simply  know  the  direction  of  his  fatal 
journey,  or  even  the  name  under 
which  he  traveled." 

The  last  he  would  have  known 
could  he  have  looked  upon  the 
crumpled  paper  which  La  Guerita 
had  found  in  a  pocket-book,  and  that 
moment  held  in  her  hand.  Upon  it 
were  written  the  words  : 

'  '  Mr.  Norton  Holmes  will  call, 
according  to  request,  upon  Mr.  Har- 
ry Grey  at  the  R  --  Hotel,  M  ---  , 
at  ten  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning. 

"  HOLMSFORD,  N.  Carolina, 

,  1859." 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  What  were  those  fancies  ?     *     *    * 
A  wind  arose  and  rushed  upon  the  South, 
And  shook  the  songs,  the  whispers,  and  the  shrieks 
Of  the  wild  woods  together;  and  a  Voice 
Went  with  it:  4  Follow,  follow,  thou  shalt  win.'  " 
re»ni/*m. 

IT  would  have  been  well  if  Victor 
DeGrey  had  not  that  night  passed  by 


54 


In  Bonds. 


the  doors  of  Enola,  but  had  entered 
in,  and  looked  upon  the  grieving 
widow.  Not  for  a  moment  would 
he  have  left  her  alone,  had  he  guessed 
the  wild  thoughts  and  longings  that 
filled  her  heart  and  brain  as  she  sat 
in  her  dimly-lighted  chamber,  with 
the  crumpled  paper,  the  clue  to  her 
husband's  wanderings,  in  her  hands. 

A  sudden  longing  to  visit  her  birth- 
place, and  see  her  mother  possessed 
her.  A  longing,  born  from  no  de- 
sire of  sympathy  or  love,  she  was  in- 
capable then  of  wishing  for  either. 
She  rather  wished  to  probe  deeper 
her  wounded  soul,  to  go  where  her 
husband  had  suffered  for  her  even 
unto  death. 

She  started  to  her  feet  and  paced 
the  room  rapidly,  sometimes  pausing 
for  a  moment  at  the  open  window  to 
gaze  out  into  the  night,  as  if  with  an 
uncontrollable  impulse  to  fly  into  its 
darkness.  Then,  had  she  been  placed 
upon  a  boundless  desert,  the  dreary 
scene  would  have  harmonized  well 
with  the  wild  thoughts  that  thronged 
her  mind,  while  the  incense  starting 
upward  from  the  garden,  maddened 
her  by  its  utter  incongruity.  Had 
she  stood  alone  on  the  rocky  shore 
of  the  sea,  and  looked  over  its  waters, 
the  solitude  and  grandeur  might  have 
given  her  peace,  but  the  sight  of 
lovelier  things — the  starlight  shim- 
mering over  rustling  tree  and  flower, 
even  the  calm  face  of  her  sleeping 
child  seemed  only  mocking  her  des- 
pair. She  wanted  change,  thunder, 
lightning,  flood,  anything  terrible — 
anything  more  horrible  than  the  pas- 
sions which  beset  her  soul. 

Suddenly,  the  longing  to  behold 
her  mother  became  a  determination, 
and  then  came  another  thought  so 


terrible  that  her  very  soul  recoiled 
from  it,  and  she  sank  to  the  floor  as 
if  struck  by  a  heavy  hand,  shuddering 
from  head  to  foot,  yet  calling  back 
the  terrible  thought,  clinging  to  it, 
and  holding  it  in  her  heart,  till  it  be- 
came the  single  hope  of  her  soul. 

The  early  hours  of  morning  had 
come  when  she  looked  again  from 
her  window.  The  tardy  moon  was 
just  rising  from  the  sea,  and  faintly 
shining  upon  Enola.  For  a  mo- 
ment a  tremor  shook  the  woman's 
heart.  She  should  never  behold 
again  the  moonbeams  shine  upon 
her  once-loved  home,  or  upon  the 
marble  shaft  that  marked  her  hus- 
band's grave. 

She  could  not  go  without  behold- 
ing that — without  a  last  farewell  to 
his  resting  place.  All  was  silent. 
Not  a  creature  awake  in  the  house — 
not  a  creature  stirring  in  the  roads. 
She  looked  around  the  room,  caught 
a  large  cloak  from  the  foot  of  the  bed, 
and  wrapping  it  around  her,  crept 
noiselessly  down  the  stairs  and  through 
the  hall.  The  bolts  and  lock  of  a 
side  door  readily  yielded  to  her  hand. 
She  gained  the  garden,  sped  rapidly 
over  the  deserted  roads,  and  soon  sank 
exhausted  upon  her  husband's  grave. 

There  she  burst  in  wild  ejacula- 
tions of  the  atonement  she  would 
make,  calling  upon  her  husband's 
name,  as  if  his  dead  form  could  rise 
and  answer  her.  But  she  could  not 
stay  in  the  lonesome  churchyard — she 
could  not  kneel  beside  her  dead  hus- 
band and  child.  Their  eyes  seemed 
to  reproach  her,  a  sense  of  guilt,  a 
nameless  terror,  filled  her  soul.  She 
staggered  to  her  feet,  and  again  sped 
over  the  lonesome  roads,  and,  undis- 
covered, gained  her  chamber. 


In  Bonds. 


55 


She  had  made  a  mad  resolve  to 
depart  that  night,  and,  without  paus- 
ing to  rest,  prepared  for  flight.  She 
dressed  herself  first  in  colored  gar- 
ments, over  the  mourning  she  wore, 
then  unlocked  a  desk  and  took  out  a 
sum  of  money  which  she  had  laid  by 
from  time  to  time,  and  which  she 
knew  would  never  be  missed.  Then 
for  a  moment  she  paused  and  looked 
upon  the  sleeping  child.  "It  is 
best, "  she  said  ;  ' '  yes,  it  is  best  that 
he  should  share  my  fate.  T  will  be 
an  easy  one  for  him.  He  will  never 
know  sorrow  or  shame  as  I  have 
done  ;  I  will  save  him  from  all  that. 
Yes,  yes,  my  child  and  I  are  one, 
we  must  make  atonement  together. " 

Tenderly  she  raised  him  from  the 
bed,  and  without  awakening  him, 
dressed  him  in  garments  of  a  dark 
color,  and  then  without  one  look 
around,  rose  up,  and  holding  him 
close  to  her  beating  heart,  left  the 
room  which  had  been  for  years  her 
sanctuary. 

She  paused  a  moment  at  the  door, 
then  locked  it,  and  put  the  key  into 
the  pocket  of  her  dress.  "That  will 
give  me  a  little  time/'  she  thought. 
There  was  a  faint  light  burning  in  the 
hall ;  she  paused  beneath  it  and  look- 
ed at  her  watch — "half-past  one.'' 

Then  she  left  her  home,  with  fear- 
ful calmness — such,  perhaps,  as  rest- 
ed upon  Hagar's  brow  when  she  led 
her  son  forth  into  the  burning  desert 
to  meet  his  destiny.  As  one  who 
goes  to  perform  a  direful  penance, 
thinks  more  of  the  atonement  he  will 
make,  than  of  the  torture  he  will 
suffer,  so  went  La  Guerita  into  the 
darkness  of  the^  night — into  the  still 
darker  future  she  had  claimed  for 
herself,  and  turned  not  back,  nor 


heeded  the   voices   of  Memory  and 
Love  which  strove  to  detain  her. 

Four  days  later,  her  journey  was 
over  ;  she  was  safe  in  the  R Ho- 
tel, in  M ,  N.  Carolina. 

She  herself  could  never  tell  by  what 
ingenuity  and  cunning  she  had  elud- 
ed the  vigilance  of  the  police,  who, 
throughout  the  country,  had  been 
telegraphed  of  her  disappearance  ; 
how  she  had,  a  score  of  times,  chang- 
ed the  identity  of  herself  and  child, 
and  had  arrived  without  hindrance 
at  her  destination.  It  seemed  won- 
derful even  to  herself.  She  exulted 
over  it,  as  a  proof  that  her  course  was 
pre-ordained — that  she  was  following 
out  some  mystical  fate  that  no  power 
could  thwart. 

She  arrived  at  the  hotel  late  in  the 
night,  and  attracted  the  attention  of 
neither  the  clerk  or  waiter,  who,  in- 
deed, were  too  dull  with  sleepiness 
to  notice  whether  the  lady  was  young 
or  old,  dressed  in  mourning  or  in 
colors,  or  even  if  the  child  who  ac- 
companied her  was  a  boy  or  a  girl. 

The  landlord,  however,  the  next 
morning  looked  at  the  name  in  his 
books  with  some  curiosity,  languidly 
wondering  whether  Mrs.  H.  Grey, 
was  the  wife  of  a  gentleman  of  that 
name  who  had  stayed  at  the  house 
some  weeks  before. 

It  was  late  in  the  morning  before 
he  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing, 
for  the  sen-ant  who  had  taken  up 
breakfast,  had  received  her  orders 
through  the  closed  door,  and  had 
left  the  tray  in  the  hall,  whence  it  had 
been  taken  unseen. 

This  unusual  proceeding,  though 
as  the  landlord  strove  to  assure  him- 
self might  have  arisen  from  a  most 
trivial  cause,  served  to  increase  his 


In  Bonds. 


curiosity,  and  it  was  with  alacrity  that 
he  obeyed  a  request  from  the  lady 
that  he  would  wait  upon  her. 

Unconsciously  he  had  in  his  own 
mind  decided  that  his  guest  was  the 
wife  of  the  gentleman  who  had  hon- 
ored his  house  in  the  early  spring 
time,  and  it  was  with  surprise  he  no- 
ticed the  mourning  garments  of  the 
young  widow. 

His  salutations  were  given  some- 
what confusedly,  after  which,  La 
Guerita  said  quietly  :  "I  am  quite  a 
stranger  here,  Mr.  Sterling,  and  for 
certain  reasons  desire  to  remain  one. 
Therefore,  as  I  wish  to  learn  some 
few  particulars  of  certain  persons  here, 
and  to  do  so  privately,  I  beg  that  you 
will  aid  me  to  do  so." 

11  Madam's  recent  affliction,  no 
doubt "  began  the  landlord, 

' '  Has  entirely  unfitted  me  for  any 
excitement,"  interrupted  La  Guerita, 
and  I  beg  of  you  during  my  short 
stay,  to  protect  me  from  any  publicity. 
Let  one  servant  attend  upon  me,  and 
let  that  be  one  who  will  not  prate  to 
others. " 

' '  I  assure  you,  madam, "  said  the 
really  kind-hearted  landlord,  ' '  every- 
thing shall  be  done  to  promote  your 
comfort,  and  if  in  any  way  I  can  be 
of  service  to  you,  I  pray  you  to  com- 
mand me."  . 

"Thank  you,"  said  La  Guerita, 
gently.  "It  is  only  to  have  this  note 
forwarded  to  Holmsford,  that  I  need 
at  present  trouble  you." 

She  held  the  note  in  her  hand, 
looking  at  it  doubtfully,  as  the  land- 
lord quickly  exclaimed:  "Ah,  'tis 
to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Holmes,  I  presume. 
Certainly,  ma'am,  we  know  him  well, 
he  was  a  friend  of  Mr.  Grey's  I  re- 
member. " 


La  Guerita  shuddered  from  head 
to  foot.  ' '  Speak  not  of  him, "  she 
said,  ' '  I  am  his  widow. " 

The  landlord  had  conjectured  as 
much  from  the  moment  he  entered 
the  room,  yet  at  her  words  a  feeling 
of  awe  came  over  him.  He  bowed 
silently,  unable  to  speak,  knowing 
that  he  could  say  nothing  of  condo- 
lence to  her. 

"Mr.  Holmes  will  be  much  griev- 
ed, "  he  said,  at  length.  ' '  Your  note 
shall  be  sent  immediately,  madam. 
Perhaps  there  is  some  other  friend 
you  desire  to  communicate  with  ?" 

' '  Yes, "  she  answered  boldly,  and 
with  a  beating  heart ;  * '  there  was 
another  mentioned — Mr.  Leveredge 
• — Claude  Leveredge.  He  lives  some- 
where in  this  neighborhood,  I  be- 
lieve. " 

Suddenly  the  landlord's  face  dark- 
ened. "Thank  God,  no  !"  he  said, 
with  emphasis  ;  ' '  thank  God,  the 
State  is  rid  of  him  !  But  I  beg  par- 
don, madam,  he  is  a  friend  of  yours?" 

1 '  Not  at  all, "  answered  La  Gue- 
rita quietly,  her  heart  beating  wildly. 
"As  he  is  not  here,  I  am  sorry  to 
have  excited  you  by  mentioning 
him." 

"No,  no,  madam,  you  don't  ex- 
cite me,"  returned  the  landlord, 
vainly  endeavoring  to  appear  calm  ; 
"though  God  knows,  some  fathers 
would  have  murdered  him  for  less 
evil  than  he  has  done  me  and  mine. 
But  enough  of  that,  he  is  gone  now." 
"  What,  dead  !"  she  almost  shriek- 
ed the  words. 

"No,  no,  madam,  such  villains 
always  run  a  long  lease.  I  beg  your 
pardon  again,  madam.  He  is  not 
dead  ;  he  has  only  left  the  country. " 

"Indeed  !" 


In  Bonds. 


57 


"Yes,  ma'am,  he  sold  all  his  ne- 
groes, and  all  his  lands  and  houses, 
except  the  old  homestead,  and  went 
cross  seas  more  than  a  month  ago. " 

"Strange  !  strange  !"  muttered  La 
Guerita  to  herself. 

"Yes,  ma'am,  it  was,"  said  the 
talkative  landlord,  considering  him- 
self addressed  ;  "but,  ma'am,  if  you 
know  anything  of  them,  you  will  re- 
member the  Leveredges  always  were 
a  strange  family.  But — ,"  growing 
excited  again,  ' '  I  never  heard  that 
any  of  them  spent  their  lives  in  de- 
ceiving the  innocent,  squandering 
their  fortunes  at  foreign  gambling  ta- 
bles, and  sacrificing  even  their  old 
family  servants  to  obtain  means  to 
live  abroad  in  luxury. " 

"To  /^abroad?" 

"Yes,  ma'am,  to  live  there.  He 
has  gone  for  good  now.  He  came 
from  the  north  about  six  weeks  ago, 
and,  as  I  have  said,  sold  his  planta- 
tions and  slaves,  swearing  he  would 
leave  America  for  ever.  I  reckon 
there  was  nobody  grieved  much. 
There  was  almost  murder  every  day 
on  the  place  while  he  stayed  there  ; 
he  was  absolutely  mad  with  drink  or 
some  great  excitement." 

' '  Ah,  I  am  surprised, "  remarked 
La  Guerita  indifferently.  ' '  I  under- 
stood he  was  a  remarkably  dignified 
and  reserved  gentleman." 

' '  Gentleman  ! "  hissed  the  landlord 
between  his  teeth,  and  with  all  the 
contempt  that  could  be  concentrated 
upon  one  word.  Then  he  laughed, 
as  if  in  some  slight  triumph,  saying  : 
' '  You  do  not  know  the  gentleman  ; 
few  do,  few  do.  But  there  is  one  I 
think  that  does. " 

La  Guerita  had  just  awakened  to 
the  impropriety,  or  at  least  strange- 
8 


ness  of  her  long  conversation  with 
the  garrulous  landlord,  but  she  lost 
all  recollection  of  it  at  his  words. 

1 '  Who, "  she  said  with  sudden  ani- 
mation, ' '  who  can  know  this  enig- 
matical gentleman — unless,  indeed, 
after  what  you  have  told  me,  I  should 
take  him  for  a  scoundrel  ?" 

The  landlord  was  rebuked  ;  he  felt 
how  unguardedly  he  had  spoken. 
1 '  No,  no,  there  are  few  that  have 
that  thought,"  he  said  in  agitation. 
' '  She  whom  I  spoke  of  has  not  that, 
yet  she  knows  him  well. " 

' '  And  does  not  scorn  him  ? "  que- 
ried La  Guerita,  with  a  feeling  at  her 
heart  she  could  not  define. 

' '  Tis  hard  to  say — 'tis  hard  to  say, 
ma'am,"  said  the  landlord  gravely. 
"You  see,  ma'am,  Miss  Adela  is  a 
very  superior  person.  Perhaps  you 
know  her,  ma'am  ?" 

"No." 

' '  Oh,  your  husband's  friends  on- 
ly. This  Miss  Adela,  is  Mr.  Norton 
Holmes'  eldest  daughter  ;  I've  known 
her  since  she  was  a  child,  and  a 
mighty  pert  little  thing  she  was,  but 
always  different  from  most  children. 
We  country  people,  ma'am — though 
I  say  it  myself — are  apt  to  tell  other 
people  our  business,  and  try  to  learn 
theirs  ;  but  Miss  Adela  never  was 
that-a-way.  She  never  took  any  no- 
tice of  other  people's  affairs,  nor  ot 
what  they  thought  of  hers.  She  was 
always  doing  something  that  folks 
could'nt  understand,  and  setting  their 
curiosity  agog  ;  yet  they  always  found 
out  in  the  end  that  she  meant  well. " 

' '  You  speak  of  the  past.  Has  the 
young  lady  left  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, then?" 

' '  O  dear  no,  ma'am,  but  she  has 
stayed  home  far  more  than  usual  this 


In  Bonds. 


winter,  and  last  summer  she  was 
north,  and  it  was  there  they  say  the 
trouble  first  began. " 

"  What  trouble  ?" 

' '  Sure  enough,  ma'am,  I  hav'nt 
told  you.  Why,  that  between  Claude 
Leveredge  and  Miss  Adela  ;  they  are 
cousins,  you  know,  and  folks  say  it 
was  always  intended  that  they  should 
marry.  'Twas  talked  of  when  he  was 
in  Europe,  years  ago,  and  then,  I 
fancy,  Miss  Adela  was  not  averse  to 
it ;  but  she  was  only  a  child,  and  may 
have  changed  her  notion  ;  leastways, 
people  have  been  looking  in  vain  for 
the  wedding  these  five  years. " 

' '  What  reason  had  people  to  sup- 
pose that  Mr.  Leveredge  would  mar- 
ry his  cousin  ? " 

' '  A  heap  more  to  my  mind  than 
that  she  would  marry  him, "  replied 
the  landlord,  warmly.  "Yes,"  he 
continued  energetically,  "  people 
may  say  they're  alike  ;  that  she's  cold 
and  haughty,  and  as  unfathomable 
altogether  as  Claude  Leveredge,  but 
I  grant  them  all  that,  and  yet  say  she 
will  never  marry  him. " 

' l  And  why  not  ? "  asked  La  Gue- 
rita,  greatly  interested,  knowing  that 
the  person  spoken  of  might  soon  have 
almost  unlimited  control  of  her  des- 
tiny. 

"  Because,  ma'am,  Miss  Adela 
was  not  the  woman  to  wait  in  a  cor- 
ner 'till  it  should  please  some  one  to 
take  her  out,  and  last  summer,  they 
do  say,  that  she  showed  her  cousin 
that."' 

"What,  engaged  herself  to  an- 
other ? " 

"Exactly,  ma'am,  and  Mr.  Le- 
veredge was  furious,  and  succeeded 
in  breaking  off  the  match,  they  say. " 

' '  Good  God,  what  could  he  have 


done  that  for  ? "  ejaculated  La  Gue- 
rita,  startled  from  her  wonted  com- 
posure. 

' '  In  such  cases,  a  gentleman's  mo- 
tives ain't  hard  to  guess,"  returned 
the  landlord.  ' '  Qf  course,  he  wanted 
Miss  Adela  himself,  and  it  does  my 
very  heart  and  soul  good  to  know  he 
is  foiled,  whether  Miss  Adela  acted 
out  of  revenge  or  not  There  is  no 
doubt,  after  dallying  so  long,  he  found 
when  Miss  Adela  was  about  to  marry, 
that  he  loved  her  to  distraction,  and 
that  she  scorned  him.  First  of  all, 
he  broke  off  her  marriage ;  then 
again  he  left  Holmsford,  after  his 
cousin  Acton's  funeral,  looking  like 
a  ghost ;  indeed  a  most  horrible 
change  had  come  over  him.  People 
said  he  had  been  discarded  by  Miss 
Adela — even  his  own  servants  said  so. 
One  of  them  told  me  that  while  he 
was  at  Holmsford,  she  saw  him  walk- 
ing up  and  down  a  path  in  the  gar- 
den, muttering  the  most  horrible 
oaths,  and  that  if  he  failed  in  his  pur- 
pose, then  he  would  leave  the  coun- 
try for  ever.  Then  he  went  north, 
and  he  was'nt  gone  a  month  before 
he  came  back,  in  a  half  frenzied  state. 
Well,  he  never  went  near  Holms- 
ford.  He  sold  off  everything  to  the 
highest  bidder — and  bargains  they 
made  to  be  sure — and  then  left  the 
State,  swearing  never  to  set  foot  on 
American  soil  again." 

* '  I  am  almost  interested  in  your 
local  romance,"  said  La  Guerita, 
languidly.  ' '  And  so  he  is  gone — 
well,  well.  Mr.  Holmes  will  be  suf- 
ficient ;  you  will  please  to  remember 
to  have  the  note  sent  to-day. " 

' '  Certainly,  ma'am,  certainly, "  said 
the  landlord,  taking  the  last  words  as 
a  signal  of  dismissal.  ' '  And  pray, 


In  Bonds. 


59 


madam,  is  there  nothing  else  I  can 
do?" 

"  Nothing  at  present,  I  thank  you, 
except  to  send  me  a  good  laundress, 
— some  trusty  woman.  I  fancy  my 
husband  particularly  mentioned  one 
connected  with  this  hotel." 

"No  doubt,  ma'am.  We  have 
the  best ;  perhaps  'twas  Caroline,  or, 
yes — 'twas  Dode — or  rather  Dolores, 
a  free  woman,  ma'am,  that  once  be- 
longed to  a  Mr.  Holmes. " 

' '  Doubtless  she  is  the  same, "  said 
La  Guerita  faintly.  ' '  Send  her  to 
me." 

"  I  will,  ma'am,  I  will,  early  in 
the  afternoon.  But  you  look  faint. " 

"  It  is  nothing,  nothing, "  she  mur- 
mured, regaining  her  composure  by 
a  great  effort  :  ' '  Leave  me,  if  you 
please,  I  am  weary." 

' '  Quite  tired  out  with  my  talk, " 
thought  the  landlord,  as  he  wended 
his  way  down  stairs.  ''Poor  soul, 
no  doubt  she  takes  the  death  of  her 
fine  young  husband  hard.  Well,  no 
wonder  ;  and  yet  how  attentively  she 
listened  to  me.  Shows  at  least  that 
she,  like  most  women,  relishes  a  bit 
of  gossip  at  any  time.  Jim,  go  to 
Dolores,  and  tell  her  she's  wanted 
early  this  afternoon. " 


CHAPTER  XL 

Between  the  acting  of  a  dreadful  thing 
And  the  first  motion,  the  interim  is 
Like  a  phantasma,  or  a  hideous  dream." 


LA  GUERITA  heard  this  order  given 
in  a  loud,  cheer}-  voice,  as  she  stood 
at  her  window,  and  shuddered  as  if 
it  had  been  the  announcement  of 
some  terrible  fate.  "Coward  that  I 
am, "  she  muttered,  bitterly ;  "it 


must  come,  and  now  'tis  better  than 
at  any  other  time.  What !  shall  I, 
who  have  rushed  to  meet  the  blow, 
be  afraid  to  receive  it  ?  No,  no  ! " 

Thus  she  muttered  on  ;  some- 
times of  the  past  —  oftener  of  the 
future,  in  which  the  names  of  her 
mother  and  Claude  Leveredge  were 
strangely  mingled.  Often  she  won- 
dered that  the  former  came  not,  and, 
frequently  glancing  at  her  watch,  im- 
iagned  moments  never  before  moved 
by  so  slowly. 

She  felt  a  burning  impatience  seiz- 
ing upon  and  mastering  her — a  wild, 
passionate  longing  for  repose — for 
that  repose  the  madman  hopes  for 
when  meditating  suicide ;  she  never 
for  a  moment  dreamed  of  knowing 
happiness  again,  but  she  fancied  that 
a  deep  repose — a  dreamless  lethargy, 
would  come  upon  her  after  the  fever 
and  madness  of  the  present  were 
past.  As  one  who,  in  the  pain  and 
frenzy  of  delirium,  quaffs  poisonous 
drugs  and  hopes  for  rest,  so  La  Gue- 
rita DeCuba  pressed  to  her  lips  a 
noxious  cup,  and  craved  oblivion. 

It  was  strange  that,  amid  these 
frenzied  thoughts,  she  could  fully  re- 
alize her  position,  and  force  mind 
to  contemplate  it  quietly.  Point  by 
point  she  considered  the  tale  of  the 
landlord.  At  the  love  of  Claude 
Leveredge  for  his  cousin  she  smiled, 
and  accounted  for  his  interference 
in  her  marriage  to  some  freak  alto- 
gether disconnected  with  her  own 
history.  For  his  subsequent  actions 
— his  agitation  after  the  funeral  of 
Acton  Holmes — his  sale  of  his  prop- 
erty— his  frenzy  while  attending  to  it 
— was  all  accounted  for  by  the  failure 
of  his  schemes  for  obtaining  posses- 
sion of  little  Harold,  and,  perhaps, 


6o 


In   Bonds. 


a  sudden  remorse,  brought  upon  him 
by  the  death  of  her  husband. 

"Yet  it  is  strange  that  he  left  the 
country,  after  obtaining  the  object  of 
his  ambition, "  she  murmured  ;  "for 
has  he  not  for  years  lived  only  to  see 
me  plunged  in  misery,  and  now,  that 
his  hope  is  accomplished,  he  flies  the 
scene.  Strange,  strange  man  !  Yet 
I  see  in  him  no  free  agent ;  he  is  the 
sport  of  Fate  ;  his  actions  have  been 
thus  ruled  that  I  may  carry  out  my 
purpose — my  holy  purpose  of  atone- 
ment !  Every  obstacle  has  been  re- 
moved from  my  path  ;  the  one  which 
I  most  feared — Claude  Leveredge — 
whose  presence  here  would  have  utter- 
ly baffled  me — would  have  even  caus- 
ed me  to  flee,  as  from  a  plague — no 
longer  haunts  the  place  to  bar  me 
from  it.  Appalled  by  the  ruin  he  has 
wrought,  he  has  fled  the  scene  for- 
ever, and  I  am  free  !  free  !  Free  to 
call  a  woman  of  an  accursed  race, 
mother !  Free  to  pay  the  penalty  to 
her  folly !  " 

Aroused  and  thrilled  by  the  thoughts 
that  crowded  upon  her,  she  at  last 
arose,  and  with  a  quick,  nervous  step 
paced  the  floor,  passing  the  open 
window,  and  even  her  child,  without 
once  lifting  her  eyes  from  the  car- 
pet ;  once  she  laughed  softly  as  she 
thought  how  she  had  fled  from  Enola 
and  baffled  pursuit. 

The  laugh,  low  and  faint  though 
it  was,  thrilled  and  startled  her ;  she 
suddenly  paused  in  her  walk,  clasp- 
ing her  forehead,  and  asking  herself, 
with  horror,  how  she  could  laugh  at 
such  a  time  ;  was  she  mad  ? " 

' '  No,  not  mad  ! "  she  answer- 
ed herself,  "and  never  shall  be. 
Death  will  come  before  madness  ;  it 
did  to  Harold.  No,  no ;  madness 


would  not  recompense  his  death  : 
nought  will  but  a  long,  long  life 
of  sanity  preserved  through  torture. 
Ah,  yes  !  far  worse  than  the  bitter- 
ness of  madness  must  be  my  atone- 
ment ! " 

She  looked  at  her  child,  as  he 
stood  by  the  window,  restlessly  gaz- 
ing upon  and  longing  to  be  in  the 
garden  below ;  her  heart  yearned 
over  the  beautiful  boy — her  darling, 
her  first-born  !  Was  the  atonement 
demanded  of  him  also  ?" 

The  struggle  in  her  heart  was  but 
for  a  moment ;  she  cast  the  question 
aside  by  another  :  ' '  Was  not  the 
child  a  part  of  herself?" 

Alas  !  that  she  did  not  ask  :  "Is 
not  this  Harold's  child  ?" 

While  she  pondered  the  boy  look- 
ed up,  and  filled  with  vague  terror 
bowed  his  head  and  cried  piteously  ; 
then  she  caught  him  to  her  breast, 
showering  kisses  upon  him,  calling 
him  a  thousand  endearing  names, 
and,  by  the  countless  means  that 
mothers  know,  quelled  his  restless- 
ness and  soothed  him  into  quietness 
again  ;  even  stilling  his  wailing  cry  : 
' '  O,  mamma,  let  us  go  home  !  Let 
us  go  to  grand-ma  and  Uncle  Vic  !  " 

' '  Hush,  hush  !  "  she  said,  at  last, 
in  a  low  voice,  a  thousand  times 
more  sorrowful  than  his  own  ;  ' '  we 
are  far,  very  far,  from  Enola. " 

' '  Oh,  yes,  mamma,  but  let  us  go 
back ;  it  is  so  hot  and  dusty  here, 
and  your  little  boy  is  so  tired.  O, 
mamma,  I  want  to  go  home  !  " 

La  Guerita  put  him  from  her, 
clasping  her  hands  in  agony,  almost 
in  remorse,  as  the  child  clung  to  her 
knees,  repeating,  again  and  again, 
amid  sobs  and  tears,  his  piteous  wail. 

"Hush!"   said    La    Guerita,   at 


In  Bonds. 


61 


last,  so  sternly  that  for  a  moment  his 
sobs  were  checked.  ' '  Listen  to  me, 
Harold ;  look  at  me ;  remember 
what  I  say  ;  we  are  never  going  home 
again — never  !  Don't  cry  !  Listen 
again  !  We  are  never  going  home  ; 
you  must  never  speak  of  the  place 
again. " 

"What,  not  of  Enola,  mamma — 
that  pretty  place,  mamma !  where 
papa  used  to  be  with  us,  before  they 
carried  him  away  to  the  church- 
yard ?" 

She  groaned  in  anguish  :  "  O 
child,  child,  be  still !  you  must  for- 
get all  that ;  never,  never  must  you 
speak  of  it  again.  If  you  cannot  for- 
get it,  you  must  tell  every  person  that 
asks  you  questions  that  you  have 
done  so. " 

The  boy  drew  back  from  her,  his 
cheek  slowly  crimsoning  and  his  eyes 
filling  with  amazement.  ' '  What  !  " 
he  said,  ' '  must  Harold  tell  a  lie  ?" 

' '  Ah,  what  have  I  done  ! "  she 
cried,  frantically;  "  I  have  put  evil 
and  falsehood  into  the  mind  of  my 
child  !  But  he  will  forget — he  must 
forget  that,  and  all  the  past !  Yes, 
he  shall  forget, "  she  continued,  turn- 
ing from  the  child  as  if  to  silence 
some  stern  antagonist ;  "he  is  so 
young,  he  will  forget ;  he  must — he 
shall  ! " 

Then  she  turned  to  the  child  again, 
kissing  and  caressing  him  in  a  fierce, 
yet  protecting  way,  telling  herself 
that  she  was  doing  right  to  sacrifice 
him — feeling,  in  a  vague  way,  that 
the  spirit  of  her  husband  was  pleased 
by  the  deed. 

Thus  the  weary  morning  wore 
away.  The  early  dinner  was  brought 
and  sent  back,  almost  untasted. 
Even  the  child  could  not  eat ;  he 


was  sick  at  heart  with  a  longing  for 
his  home — its  dear  familiars,  and  its 
simple  pleasures ;  he  sighed  for  the 
fresh  air  and  a  romp  in  the  garden  ; 
yet  he  dared  not  speak  of  either  ; 
and  at  last,  overcome  by  the  silence, 
the  heat  of  the  day,  and  that  sicken- 
ing languor,  which  even  an  infant 
can  feel,  he  lay  upon  the  floor  and 
sobbed  himself  to  sleep. 

But  he  soon  found  a  softer  resting 
place  ;  his  mother  lifted  him  in  her 
arms,  and  pillowed  his  head  upon 
her  bosom.  And  so  he  slept,  press- 
ing his  fair  cheek  upon  her  heaving 
breast,  as  unconscious  of  the  tumult 
raging  within,  as  a  moss  or  flower 
that  clings  to  a  volcano's  rocky  side. 

It  seemed  to  La  Guerita  hours  that 
she  sat  with  her  child  in  her  arms. 
At  last  she  was  aroused  by  a  firm 
footstep  on  the  corridor.  Her  face 
blanched,  her  heart  almost  ceased  to 
beat,  as  she  heard  a  low  tap  at  the 
door.  She  arose  and  laid  the  sleep- 
ing child  upon  the  sofa.  She  strove 
to  speak,  but  could  not ;  she  knew 
who  came,  and  could  not  bid  her 
enter. 

The  knock  was  repeated,  a  little 
more  loudly  than  before.  La  Gue- 
rita, by  a  mighty  effort,  gained 
strength  to  totter  forward  and  open 
the  door. 

There  stood  a  tall,  dark  woman  ; 
strikingly  handsome  still,  though  her 
hair  was  gray,  and  half  covered  by  a 
bandanna  handkerchief,  and  her  form 
clothed  in  homespun  garments  of 
coarse  quality  and  the  rudest  make. 

La  Guerita  noted  all  this,  even  in 
her  agitation  ;  she  noted  too  how  the 
salutation  upon  the  woman's  lips  died 
away  unspoken,  as  her  eyes  rested  up- 
on her  face  ;  how  she  gazed  upon  her 


62 


In  Bonds. 


as  on  one  risen  from  the  dead.  She 
seemed  fascinated,  for  some  seconds 
she  neither  spoke  nor  moved  :  then 
she  said,  with  a  slightly  foreign  ac- 
cent, the  more  perceptible  perhaps 
from  its  tremulousness  : 

' '  I  beg  your  pardon,  ma'am,  I 
don't  know  whenever  I've  been 
startled  so.  I 

' '  Sit  down, "  said  La  Guerita. 

She  seemed  glad  to  avail  herself  of 
the  permission,  even  though  the  lady 
remained  standing.  As  she  sank  in- 
to a  chair,  she  caught  the  image  of 
herself  and  the  young  widow  reflect- 
ed in  a  large  mirror.  She  shrieked 
aloud,  starting  to  her  feet,  and  point- 
ing to  the  mirror,  while  she  exclaim- 
en  :  "  Look,  look,  and  tell  me  who 
you  are.  O  God,  it  cannot  be —  !  " 
She  faced  the  mirror  with  frightful 
eagerness,  drawing  La  Guerita  to  her 
side,  and  pointing  to  the  images  re- 
flected. Then  suddenly  she  said 
again  :  ' '  For  God's  sake  tell  me  who 
you  are  ? " 

"You  know  already,"  said  La 
Guerita  bitterly.  ' '  Stand  back  from 
me.  I  am  your  daughter — La  Gue- 
rita DeCuba ! " 

For  a  moment  the  quadroon  re- 
mained motionless,  the  words  could 
not  augment  the  shock  the  presence 
of  her  daughter  had  given  her.  The 
two  women  stood  as  if  entranced. 
They  looked  at  each  other,  but  no 
word  of  love  or  welcome  broke  from 
the  lips  of  either.  The  daughter 
looked  upon  the  mother  with  eyes  of 
accusing  wrath,  while  she  cowered 
before  that  gaze  like  one  accursed, 
falling  at  last  to  the  floor  with  a  bitter 
moan,  sobbing  forth  : 

' '  My  daughter  !  my  daughter,  why 
are  you  here  ? " 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  What  is  the  tale  that  I  would  tell  ?     Not  one 
Of  strange  adventure,  but  a  common  tale 
Of  woman's  wretchedness;  one  to  be  read 
Daily  in  many  a  young  and  blighted  heart.1' 

Miss  Landon. 

THESE  words,  huskily  and  faintly 
spoken  by  the  prostrate  woman, 
seemed  to  level  the  barrier  that  ex- 
isted between  mother  and  daughter. 
Suddenly  they  realized  that  they  were 
mother  and  daughter,  not  mistress 
and  menial.  Neither  spoke  or  in 
any  way  gave  vent  to  her  emotion. 
La  Guerita  sank  into  a  chair;  Do- 
lores slowly  raised  herself,  and  stood 
with  downcast  eyes  before  her  daugh- 
ter. 'Twas  pitiful  to  see  how  stun- 
ned with  shame  and  grief  she  was, 
how  imploringly  she  lifted  her  hand, 
as  if  to  entreat  a  moment's  space  for 
thought,  saying,  at  length :  ' '  Wait 
one  moment — only  one  ;  I  shall  be 
able  to  hear  you  then. " 

This  she  said  with  trembling  lips 
and  voice,  not  as  a  mother  welcom- 
ing back  in  hope  and  love  a  long  lost 
child,  but  as  one  averting  a  threatened 
evil.  La  Guerita  looked  upon  her 
with  a  countenance  almost  sublime 
in  its  accusing  wrath  and  scornful 
pity,  for  in  her  very  soul  she  spurned 
with  contempt  the  fallen  woman  be- 
fore her,  and  yet  as  deeply  pitied  the 
mother  who  feared  to  meet  the  gaze 
of  her  child. 

Dolores  Holmes  saw  that.  She 
knew  that  a  terrible  sorrow  had  fallen 
upon  her  daughter's  life,  and  that  she 
was  held  accountable  for  it.  She 
dropped  her  head  upon  her  hands 
and  groaned,  and  just  then  Harold 
awoke  with  a  cry,  and  called  his 
mother  to  his  side. 

The  quadroon  looked  at  him  in 


In  Bonds. 


amazement ;  she  had  not  noticed 
him  until  then.  She  drew  near,  she 
would  have  touched  him,  but  La 
Guerita  pushed  her  aside,  as  if  her 
very  presence  were  pollution.  Hum- 
bly and  sadly  she  turned  away,  forc- 
ing back  the  ready  tears,  and  moving 
not  again  until  La  Guerita  said  calmly : 
* '  Are  you  ready  to  listen  to  me  now  ? " 

"Send  the  child  away,"  she  mur- 
mured ;  ' '  Send  him  away  before  you 
speak." 

1 '  You  are  right, "  returned  La  Gu- 
erita ;  ' '  Jt  is  best  that  he  should  see 
nor  hear  nothing  of  what  must  pass 
between  us." 

So  Harold,  whose  eyes  seemed  riv- 
eted upon  the  strange  woman,  was 
sent  to  the  beautiful  garden  which  he 
had  all  day  longed  to  enter ;  and  in  a 
few  moments  the  mother  and  daugh- 
ter were  alone,  with  the  locked  door 
between  them  and  the  outer  world. 

The  silence  that  followed  was  short, 
for  La  Guerita  felt  that  she  had  still  a 
duty  to  perform,  and  with  fresh  impa- 
tience entered  upon  its  accomplish- 
ment 

"The  child  is  gone,"  she  said; 
"The  innocent  child,  before  whom 
we  could  not  speak  of  evil,  and  now 
I  am  ready  to  talk  to  you.  I,  your 
daughter — a  woman  in  years  and 
cares — am  ready  to  learn  of  my 
mother  why  she  cast  me  forth  to  the 
awful  fate  that  has  come  upon  me." 

The  mother  cast  an  appealing 
glance  upon  her  child,  but  saw  no 
sign  of  yielding  upon  her  rigid  face. 

' '  Don't  look  at  me, "  she  entreated. 
"Indeed  I  cannot  bear  it.  What 
need  have  you  to  question  me — to 
awaken  memories  long  silent  ?  You 
know  I  was  born  a  slave,  though 
white  blood  coursed  through  my 


veins.  There  !  you  can  see  it  now, 
though  years  and  toil  have  darkened 
me.  It  used  to  be  my  boast,  that 
and  my  beauty.  But  oh,  I  have 
cursed  it  a  thousand  times;  yet  I 
blessed  it  when  Acton  Holmes  for 
its  sake  loved  me,  and  brought  me 
from  my  Cuban  home  to  be  his  mis- 
tress here." 

' '  You  dare  say  that  to  me  ! "  cried 
La  Guerita,  with  burning  cheeks  and 
flashing  eyes. 

' '  God  knows  I  speak  with  shame, " 
sighed  Dolores  Holmes,  "But  you 
have  asked  me  for  the  truth  ;  you 
have  a  right  to  hear  it,  and  you  shall 
if  you  still  demand  it  of  me. " 

"I  do,"  returned  La  Guerita,  still 
indignation  in  her  tones  ;  adding  as 
she  seated  herself  opposite  her  moth- 
er, "I  will  try  to  listen  to  you  calmly, 
so  tell  me  all,  and  especially  how  you, 
a  mother,  could  put  your  infants  from 
your  breast.  There,  tell  me  that ;  I 
can  ask  no  more. " 

' '  But  I  must  tell  you  more, "  cried 
Dolores,  eagerly,  ' '  and  oh,  perhaps 
your  hate  may  turn  to  pity  when  you 
hear  my  tale. " 

"Don't  speak  of  that,"  returned 
La  Guerita,  in  the  tone  in  which  she 
might  have  said,  "Don't  hope  for 
it ;"  and  with  a  beating  heart  Dolores 
Holmes  began  the  history  of  her  life. 

"You  asked  me  a  moment  ago," 
she  said,  "how  I  dared  to  tell  you 
that  I  gloried  in  my  beauty  when 
Acton  Holmes  brought  me  here  to 
be  the  delight  of  his  eyes,  the  idol  of 
his  heart ! " 

She  spoke  those  words  with  pas- 
sionate emphasis,  as  if  by  them  to 
vindicate  the  conduct  of  the  man  who 
had  wronged  her,  and  with  such  in- 
tense feeling  that  all  shame  passed 


64 


In  Bonds. 


from  her  voice  and  mien.  Then, 
startled  and  aroused,  La  Guerita 
knew  that  the  life  of  her  mother,  like 
her  own,  had  been  blessed,  then 
cursed  by  Love  ;  then  the  first  thrill 
of  sympathy  with  her  mother  sprang 
into  being.  But  she  had  sworn  to 
let  no  tie  of  blood,  or  any  womanly 
pity,  debar  her  from  judging  Dolores 
Holmes  aright,  and  without  speaking 
she  motioned  her  to  continue. 

"You  are  calm/'  said  Dolores, 
' '  but  I  don't  think  I  can  be  when  I 
speak  of  those  days.  Oh,  I  loved 
him  so  !  I  loved  him  so  !  He  was  so 
handsome,  so  grand,  so  good  !  You 
smile.  He  was  all  that,  and  he  loved 
me !  Yes,  he  loved  me ;  and  if  I 
had  been  the  acknowledged  daughter 
of  Seiior  Alvarez,  instead  of  a  slave, 
he  would  have  sought  me  as  his  wife 
with  all  the  eagerness  of  the  wild,  ay, 
mad  idolatry  that  filled  his  soul  when 
first  he  beheld  me. 

"I  had  never  been  a  favorite  on 
the  plantation.  My  mistress  hated 
and  my  master  shunned  me.  I  think 
he  was  very  glad  when  the  young 
American  proposed  to  buy  me ;  and 
the  happiest  day  of  my  life  was  that 
upon  which  I  became  the  property  of 
Acton  Holmes. 

"Why  do  you  look  at  me  so? 
God  knows  it  was  not  strange  that  I 
should  rejoice  to  escape  from  the  tyr- 
anny of  a  jealous  mistress,  the  cold- 
ness of  an  indifferent  master,  and  the 
bitter  servitude  I  had  so  long  endured. 
How  was  I,  an  untutored  child,  to 
know  my  duty  toward  God,  of  whom 
I  had  seldom  even  heard  ?  How  was  I 
to  know  that  it  was  wrong  for  me  to 
drink  the  cup  of  happiness  which  was 
held  out  to  me — to  take  with  joy  the 
love  so  freely  offered  me  ?  There 


was  no  one  to  warn  me  from  it ;  no 
one  who  cared  to  save  me  from  a  fate 
worse  than  slavery.  I  think  Rosita, 
my  master's  daughter,  would  have 
done  so  had  she  been  near,  but  she 
had  lately  married  an  American  nam- 
ed Burford,  and  gone  with  him  to 
spend  the  winter  in  New  York. " 

"You  mean  Roland  Burford,  I 
suppose  ? "  said  La  Guerita,  in  some 
surprise. 

' '  Yes,  that  was  his  name, "  returned 
Dolores;  "Can  it  be  possible  that 
you  know  him  ? " 

"Fabean  is  now  traveling  with 
him  in  Europe.  Continue ;  why  do 
you  pause  ? " 

"To  thank  God  that  my  son  is 
safe ! "  she  answered  solemnly.  "I 
feared  to  ask  of  him.  But  I  pray 
you  now  to  tell  me  is  he  prosperous  ? " 

"Yes." 

"And  he  has  found  a  friend  in 
Roland  Burford?" 

"A  true  and  firm  one,  I  trust," 
replied  La  Guerita,  much  affected  by 
the  mention  of  her  brother. 

"  Ah  !"  murmured  Dolores,  mus- 
ingly, ' '  Roland  Burford  was  a  good 
man." 

' '  And  he  is  still, "  said  La  Guerita, 
somewhat  emphatically  ;  ' '  but  waste 
no  time  in  talking  of  him  now; 
speak  of  yourself,  and,  first  of  all, 
tell  me  how  you  gained  such  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage ? " 

"Easily  enough,"  answered  Do- 
lores ;  "my  teacher  was  Acton 
Holmes.  Ah  !  I  have  never  forgot- 
ten the  lessons  he  gave  me,  though 
later  ones  have  faded  from  my  mind. 
How  could  I  forget  anything  that 
happened  during  the  four  years  I 
lived  in  the  cottage  by  the  river — 


In  Bonds. 


those  years,  that  were  the  only  happy 
ones  of  my  life  ? " 

"  It  is  needless  for  me  to  describe 
to  you  my  daily  life,  save  that  for 
three  years  its  peacefulness  was  un- 
broken. Until  my  boy  was  nearly 
two  years  old,  not  a  thought  of  the 
future  troubled  me  ;  my  master  was 
as  kind  as  ever,  and  no  pang  of  jeal- 
ousy or  distrust  ever  entered  my 
heart,  until  I  heard  that  a  woman, 
who  had  lived  as  I  was  living,  had 
been  sold  and  sent  far  South,  that 
her  presence  might  not  annoy  her 
master's  bride.  She  and  her  children 
had  been  sacrificed,  why  might  not 
I  be?  Even  then  no  thought  of 
guilt  troubled  me  ;  it  was  only  fear 
that  made  me  shudder ;  I  could  not 
believe  that  the  man  I  loved — that 
loved  me — would  act  so  base  a  part ; 
but  he  might  die,  and  then  what 
would  become  of  me,  and  the  child 
I  had  borne?" 

"Then,  too,  I  was  soon  to  be- 
come, for  a  second  time,  a  mother. 
Then  I  first  learned  to  pray.  Oh,  how 
wildly  I  entreated  that  my  child 
might  never  see  the  light,  or  that  at 
least  it  might  not  be  a  girl  to  meet  a 
fate  like  mine.  Then,  for  the  first 
time,  I  was  moody  and  unhappy.  I 
could  only  weep  when  my  master 
caressed  me,  and  answer  with  sobs, 
when  he  asked  the  cause  of  my  dejec- 
tion. 

1 '  In  the  early  summer,  my  second 
child  was  born.  I  shrieked  in  agony 
and  fainted  when  they  told  me  it  was 
a  girl.  There  was  a  good,  kind 
quakeress  with  me,  who  had  known 
my  master  from  his  birth.  Often 
had  she  reproved  him  for  his  sin,  but 
she  came  to  me  in  my  hour  of  peril. 
By  my  subsequent  dejection,  not  by 
9 


any  words  I  spoke,  she  guessed  why 
I  had  fainted  at  your  birth.  I  think 
that  Acton,  too,  must  have  gained 
some  idea  of  the  cause,  for  one  day 
he  came  into  my  room,  and  said  : 
'  Dolores,  I  am  about  to  free  you  and 
the  children. ' 

"  My  heart  bounded  with  joy  at 
the  words ;  my  fears  all  vanished  ; 
my  soul  was  comforted,  for  I  knew 
that  Acton  Holmes  never  retracted  a 
promise. 

' '  Yes,  my  soul  was  comforted  for 
a  time — for  a  time  only.  The  good 
woman  who  had  visited  me  in  my 
need,  did  not  turn  from  me — as  a 
weaker  woman  would  have  done — 
when  my  bodily  health  was  restored. 
She  saw  that  my  soul  was  weak,  not 
naturally  vile,  so  she  would  not  leave 
me  without  an  effort  to  save  me.  Ah, 
it  was  long  before  she  could  instill 
into  my  mind  any  knowledge  of  good 
or  evil." 

' '  But  she  succeeded  at  last  ?" 

"Thank  God,  yes." 

"  What  was  the  woman's  name  ? " 

"Asenith  Bray.  She  is  old  and 
feeble  now,  and  is  called  Aunt  Sene 
by  both  black  and  white.  She  lives 
near  Holmsford,  in  the  little  house  in 
which  she  was  born. " 

' '  I  will  find  her.  Go  on  with  your 
story. " 

Dolores  raised  her  eyes  with  a  look 
of  wonder. 

' '  She  can  tell  you  nothing  differ- 
ent, "  she  said  humbly ;  "  I  am  giv- 
ing you  the  truth,  without  seeking  to 
exculpate  myself.  I  know  I  deserve 

all  your  doubt  and  scorn,  but " 

her  lips  trembled  for  a  few  moments, 
she  ,  could  say  no  more ;  then  she 
continued  bravely :  "I  think,  per- 
haps, Asenith  Bray  could  more  easily 


66 


In  Bonds. 


feel  charity  and  sympathy  for  the 
poor,  ignorant  slave,  than  you  pos- 
sibly can  for  the  mother  who  has  cast 
a  stigma  upon  your  being. " 

La  Guerita  interrupted  her,  impa- 
tiently. ' '  Don't  speak  of  charity  or 
sympathy, "  she  exclaimed,  ' '  I  know 
not  what  they  are. " 

Dolores  sighed  deeply,  yet  disdain- 
ing to  reveal  to  La  Guerita  the  effect 
of  her  words,  continued  firmly  : 

' '  I  have  told  you  that  this  woman 
— Asenith  Bray — came  to  me  after 
you  were  born.  She  told  me,  that 
though  I  was  but  a  slave,  my  soul 
was  as  dear  to  God  as  that  of  my 
master  ;  and  she  told  me  that  his 
soul,  as  well  as  mine,  ran  in  danger 
of  destruction. 

' '  I  told  something  of  this  to  Acton, 
but  he  laughed  and  told  me  he  could 
care  for  his  own  soul,  and  that  he  did 
not  fear  the  vengeance  of  God  for  his 
conduct  toward  a  woman  he  loved 
but  could  not  marry. 

"His  answer  silenced  my  appre- 
hensions on  that  point.  Then  Ase- 
nith pointed  to  my  children  :  '  They 
are  to  be  free/  she  said,  'but  will 
they  ever  be  happy  !  They,  the  base- 
born  children  of  a  harlot.  At  least 
if  you  cannot  redeem  the  past,  make 
fair  the  future/ 

' '  What  did  it  matter  ?  There  was 
negro  blood  in  their  veins,  they  could 
never  rise  in  the  world.  My  shame 
would  not  affect  them.  Yet  for  days 
Asenith's  words  rang  in  my  ears,  and 
then  for  the  first  time  I  realized  fully 
that  I  had  sinned. 

' '  Again  and  again  came  Asenith 
Bray.  Again  and  again  she  read  pas- 
sages from  the  bible  which  treated  of 
my  sin.  At  last  a  day  came  upon 
which  I  bowed  my  soul  in  anguish, 


and  craved  the  mercy  of  my  insulted 
God.  Oh,  then — then  it  was  hard  to 
do  what  the  law  commanded  ;  to  put 
the  love  of  Acton  Holmes  from  me, 
to  entreat  him  to  leave  me  and  my 
children  in  peace.  Ah,  I  never 
thought  for  a  moment  he  would  take 
my  darlings  from  me,  or  I  could  not 
have  spoken. 

' '  I  had  time  to  weigh  well  my  de- 
cision. My  master  went  north  that 
summer,  and  did  not  return  until 
fall.  Oh,  how  I  dreaded  his  return. 
It  seemed  to  me  cruel  that  he  hurried 
back,  because  he  feared  that  I  and 
my  new-born  child  were  ailing  still. 
And  in  the  midst  of  his  kindness  I 
had  to  tell  him  how  I  abhorred  the 
life  I  had  led,  and  to  entreat  him  to 
put  me  away  from  him — to  make  me 
the  lowest  of  his  slaves — to  sell  me 
and  my  children  at  the  block,  rather 
than  make  me  sin  again. 

"At  first  he  did  not  understand 
me  ;  then  he  laughed,  thinking  some 
trifling  annoyance  had  excited  me. 
But  when  I  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears 
and  with  passionate  emphasis  re- 
peated what  Aunt  Asenith  had  told 
me,  he  cursed  her  name,  but  I  si- 
lenced him  by  pointing  to  my  bible  ; 
'  there, '  said  I,  '  I  learned  my  sin. ' 

"  Bitterly  then  he  upbraided  me. 
'  I  thought  you  loved  me, '  he  said, 
and  for  that  reason  I  have  never 
looked  upon  you  as  a  mere  slave. 
But  it  cannot  be  possible  that  you 
have  deceived  me  all  these  years — 
that  you  have  ever  feared  and  hated 
me.' 

' '  '  And  I  have  not,  I  have  not, ' 
I  cried  ;  *  Better  far  would  it  have 
been  if  I  had  done  so.  c  Oh,  my 
master,  I  have  loved  you.  I  love 
you  still ;  but  I  hear  the  Lord  saying 


In  Bonds. 


to  me,  as  to  the  Magdalen  of  old — 
'  Go  and  sin  no  more. ' 

' '  I  shall  never  forget  the  look  he 
gave  me  then — a  look  that  said,  '  I 
have  lost  you  for  ever, '  while  he  mut- 
tered :  '  I  taught  her  myself  those 
cursed  letters — blind  fool  that  I  was. ' 

' '  Then  he  went  from  the  house  ; 
I  thought,  I  hoped,  never  to  return. 
Yet  the  very  hope  seemed  death  to 
me,  and  I  fell  fainting  to  the  floor. 
That  night,  after  the  moon  had  risen, 
Asenith  Bray  came  to  me  ;  she  wept 
over  me,  yet  she  rejoiced  and  com- 
forted me. 

"  For  three  long  months  I  saw  no 
creature  but  her.  God  only  knows 
what  I  suffered  in  that  time,  yet  I 
strove  to  reconcile  myself  to  my  fate. 
What  that  was  to  be  I  never  inquired 
even  of  myself.  I  imagined  dimly 
that  I  was  to  live  in  that  little  cottage 
for  ever — I  and  my  children,  con- 
tented to  know  that  Acton  Holmes 
was  somewhere  in  the  outer  world, 
caring  for  and  protecting  us.  For 
although  he  never  came,  or  sent 
any  word  to  me,  I  placed  in  him  the 
simple  faith  with  which  an  humble 
Christian  believes  in  and  relies  on 
the  God  she  cannot  see. " 

Dolores  paused,  looking  furtively 
at  La  Guerita,  who  rose  abruptly, 
more  touched  by  her  mother's  words 
than  she  would  own  even  to  herself. 
In  a  moment  she  returned  to  her  seat 
as  if  ashamed  of  her  momentary 
weakness,  and  impatiently  motioned 
her  to  proceed. 

"He  came  to  me  in  the  early 
spring, "  she  began  abruptly,  yet  in  a 
low,  sad  voice  ;  '  I  was  sitting  upon 
the  steps  with  my  baby  in  my  arms, 
and  my  beautiful  blue-eyed  boy  play- 
ing at  my  feet,  when  the  gate  swung 


back,  and  looking  up,  I  saw  my  mas- 
ter standing  in  the  path. 

' '  I  could  neither  speak  nor  move.  I 
think  for  the  first  moment  I -was  over- 
whelmed with  joy — the  next  with 
fear.  But  Fabean  rushed  towards 
him  with  a  joyful  cry.  Then  I  sprang 
forward  and  held  him  back  ;  but  my 
master  bent  down  and  caressed  him, 
then  said  :  'Send  him  away,  Do- 
lores, and  let  me  look  at  the  girl. ' 

"I  obeyed,  trembling  with  alter- 
nations of  heat  and  cold,  as  he  took 
you  in  his  arms,  looked  at  you  grave- 
ly, kissed  you  again  and  again,  and 
said  at  length  :  '  Poor  little  one,  she 
is  a  tiny  creature  to  leave  her  mother. ' 

"I  was  stunned  by  his  words — 
those  cruel  words !  I  had  never 
thought  he  would  take  you  from  me. 
As  soon  as  I  could  speak,  I  entreated 
him  to  spare  me  such  a  bitter  pang, 
crying  out  that  I  could  not,  would 
not  live  without  my  children,  that  my 
heart  would  break. 

' '  I  know  he  pitied  me  ;  he  could 
not  see  my  anguish  and  do  otherwise. 
He  led  me  into  the  house,  and  en- 
deavored to  comfort  me,  and  when  I 
became  calmer,  told  me  his  plans. 
They  dazzled  me,  though  at  first  I 
would  not  yield  to  them.  His  chil- 
dren— his,  he  said — were  not  to  feel 
their  mother's  shame.  He  was  piti- 
less, I  thought  then,  as  he  went  on 
to  say  how,  for  their  sakes,  he  had 
yielded  to  my  prayer,  and  that  for 
them  he  would  vow  himself  to  per- 
petual celibacy,  that  no  legitimate 
children  might  wean  from  them  his 
love. 

' '  For  a  time  I  was  madly  jealous  of 
my  babes  :  they  were  all  in  all — I, 
nothing.  Ah,  since  that,  I  have  seen 
wives  bear  the  same  pangs  in  silence, 


68 


In  Bonds. 


and,  ere  long,  I  smothered  mine, 
and  listened  with  patience  to  his 
words. 

' '  His  plan  was  to  free  them,  and 
place  them  where  their  birth  would 
never  be  suspected.  They  could 
pass  for  white  children,  and  an  edu- 
cation and  fortune  should  be  given 
them. 

' '  I  cannot  tell  you  what  days  and 
nights  of  bitterness  I  passed  before  I 
would  yield  my  children  up.  Ase- 
nith  Bray  pleaded  with  me  in  vain  ; 
it  was  but  the  thought  that  your  life, 
if  passed  in  slavery,  would  be  cursed 
like  mine,  that  induced  me  at  last  to 
let  them  go. 

"And  so  they  took  my  children 
from  me — Acton  and  Asenith.  For 
years  I  never  knew  where  they  were  ; 
I  only  knew  that  they  were  safe,  that 
they  were  never  to  know  their  mother 
— never  to  learn  how  low  a  thing  she 
was. " 

Dolores  paused,  seemingly  living 
again,  in  thought,  the  terrible  hour 
that  had  left  her  childless.  Her  eyes 
blazed  with  fury  and  desperation, 
and  her  cheeks  burned  like  live  coals. 
La  Guerita  looked  at  her  in  amaze- 
ment, until  the  light  slowly  faded  from 
her  eyes,  and  the  crimson  from  her 
cheeks,  and  thought :  ' '  And  thus 
her  violent  agony  wore  out  ;  terrible 
but  short-lived  are  the  emotions  of 
her  race. " 

It  seemed  as  if  Dolores  read  her 
thoughts,  for  she  said  mournfully  : 
"Acton  Holmes  came  back  to  me 
and  gave  me  the  emancipation  papers 
of  my  children  and  myself,  but  what 
were  they  to  me  ?  I  had  lost  my 
children  !  Ah,  have  you  ever  missed 
a  baby's  head  from  your  breast? 
Have  you  listened  in  vain  for  the 


wailing  cry  or  the  happy  murmur  ? 
Have  you  felt  the  turning  of  soft  hair 
round  your  fingers,  and  baby  lips 
pressing  yours,  and  then  awoke  to 
find  it  all  a  dream  ?  If  so,  you  can 
pity  me  !  For  day  and  night  have 
I  passed  like  that  since  my  children 
left  me,  broken-hearted,  at  that  cot- 
tage door." 

"Don't  speak  to  me  of  that,  "mut- 
tered La  Guerita  huskily.  "Calm 
yourself,  and  leave  me  ;  I  can  bear 
no  more  now.  Let  no  one  know  that 
I  have  returned,  and  come  to  me  again 
to-morrow. " 

She  arose,  and  passed  into  her  bed- 
room, fearing  longer  to  trust  herself 
in  the  presence  of  the  woman  whose 
tale  had  aroused  the  emotions  of  love 
and  pity  which  she  had  fancied  dead 
in  her  heart.  She  threw  herself  on 
the  bed,  pressing  her  hands  upon 
her  throbbing  temples,  and  vainly 
striving  to  still  the  wild  thoughts  that 
crowded  her  brain.  Ere  long  she 
started  to  her  feet,  aroused  by  the 
voice  of  Harold  who  rushed  to  her 
arms,  exclaiming,  with  passionate 
sobs  :  "She  did  hurt  me,  mamma  ; 
she  did  hurt  me. " 

' t  Who,  my  darling.  Who  dared 
to  hurt  you  ? " 

"The  woman  who  was  with  you, 
mamma  ;  she  saw  me  in  the  garden, 
and  jumped  towards  me,  and  nearly 
killed  me." 

' '  How,  my  child  ? " 

"Oh,  she  pressed  me  to  her  so 
hard,  and  kissed  me,  as  if  I  was  iron 
and  couldn't  be  hurt ;  but  I  kicked 
her  though,"  he  added  triumphantly, 
glancing  at  his  dainty  little  boots, 
"and  she  soon  let  me  go,  and  I 
know  I  hurt  her,  for  she  leant  against 
a  tree  and  cried  awfully." 


In  Bonds. 


69 


"Even  this  child  repels  her," 
thought  La  Guerita  bitterly  :  ' '  Even 
this  child  spurns  the  woman  that 
bore  me ! " 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Is  it  madness  or  no  f 

THAT  night  the  hours  passed  drear- 
ily to  two  persons,  at  least,  in  M . 

They  were  filled  to  La  Guerita,  as 
they  had  ever  been  since  her  hus- 
band's death,  with  strange  and  excit- 
ing dreams ;  and  to  Dolores  they 
seemed  fraught  with  bitter  memories 
and  wild  apprehensions.  She  longed 
for  the  morning,  that  she  might  hast- 
en to  her  daughter  to  learn  why  she 
had  returned  to  awaken  the  buried 
past,  to  fill  her  heart  with  agony. 
Yet  when  the  dawn  came  a  sudden 
terror  seized  her,  and  hours  passed 
before  she  dared  to  present  herself 
before  her  daughter. 

It  was  almost  noon  when  she  at 
last  started  to  her  feet,  and  hurried 
impetuously  toward  the  hotel.  As 
she  turned  into  the  street,  she  was  ar- 
rested by  the  voice  of  the  landlord, 
who  had  noted  with  much  curiosity 
her  long  interview  with  his  guest  on 
the  previous  day. 

' '  Stop  a  minute  !  stop,  Dolores  ! " 
he  cried  ;  ' '  Are  you  trying  to  over- 
take the  steam  cars?  A  mighty  hot 
day  this  for  such  an  experiment,  I 
should  think.  Where  are  you  going 
to  at  such  a  rate  ? " 

"Only  to  the  hotel,  Mr.  Sterling," 
she  answered  respectfully. 

"Well,  't isn't  a  running  away, 
that  I  know  of,"  he  returned,  with  a 
laugh,  ' '  So  you  needn't  go  as  if  'twas 
a  racehorse,  and  you  were  forced  to 
overtake  it.  Who  do  you  suppose 


wants   you   at  the  hotel   in  such  a 
hurry  ? " 

Dolores  well  knew  that  the  land- 
lord had  some  object  in  putting  these 
questions,  and  she  shrewdly  suspected 
that  he  wished  to  learn  something  of 
the  widow  and  her  son.  She  looked 
at  him  keenly,  replying  that  she  didn't 
suppose  that  anybody  wanted  her  par- 
ticularly, but  that  she  had  a  heap  of 
work  to  do  and  was  in  a  hurry,  for 
the  widow  lady  had  ordered  her  to  go 
to  her  that  morning. 

"Ah,  a  very  fine  lady  Mrs.  Grey 
appears  to  be — a  very  fine  lady  in- 
deed," remarked  the  landlord,  "and 
her  face  seems  quite  familiar  to  me. 
I  am  sure  I  have  seen  her  or  her 
ghost  before. " 

Dolores  grew  pale  with  alarm,  and 
before  the  landlord  could  prevent  her 
rushed  past  him,  and  entered  the  ho- 
tel. She  ran  up  the  stairs  with  a 
wildly  beating  heart,  and  knocked  at 
the  door  of  her  daughter's  room. 

She  was  answered  by  a  clear,  ring- 
ing laugh,  and  the  door  was  thrown 
open  by  Harold,  who  shrank  back  in 
alarm  when  he  saw  the  dark,  stern 
woman  who  had  aroused  his  passion 
the  day  before. 

La  Guerita  noticed  his  fear,  and 
bade  him  go  to  the  garden.  With  a 
flushed  face  Dolores  stood  by  to  let 
him  pass,  and  then,  locking  the  door, 
turned  toward  her  daughter. 

For  a  moment  neither  spoke.  Do- 
lores, indeed,  forgot  her  errand  ;  she 
was  too  much  lost  in  contemplation 
of  the  utter  woe  enstamped  upon  her 
daughter's  countenance  to  remember 
that  she  had  still  to  learn  what  had 
cast  it  there. 

La  Guerita  first  broke  the  silence. 
' '  I  sent  a  messenger  to  Mr.  Norton 


In    Bonds. 


Holmes  last  night,"  she  said,  "ask- 
ing him  to  meet  me  here  to-day.  A 
gentleman  has  just  driven  up  to  the 
door ;  look  from  the  window  and  tell 
me  whether  it  is  he. " 

Some  fancied  resemblance  of  the 
new  comer  to  Claude  Leveredge  in- 
duced these  words,  therefore  she  was 
not  surprised  when  Dolores  answered 
in  the  affirmative. 

She  gazed  at  him  listlessly  as  he 
sprang  from  his  buggy,  and  stood  for 
a  moment  giving  directions  to  the 
negro  servant  who  had  accompanied 
him. 

"I  have  come  into  town  to  see 
Mrs.  Grey,"  she  heard  him  say  to  the 
landlord,  as  he  turned  to  enter  the 
house.  "Ah,  little  thought  we, 
Sterling,  when  poor  young  Grey  was 
here  that  we  should  see  his  widow  so 
soon.  But  such  is  life.  Send  up, 
Sterling,  and  let  her  know  I  am 
here. '"' 

La  Guerita  met  the  messenger  at 
the  door,  and  sent  him  back  with  a 
request  to  Mr.  Holmes  that  he  would 
come  up  to  her  private  parlor. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  servant  an- 
nounced, "Massa  Norton  Holmes." 

La  Guerita  advanced  to  meet  him, 
with  difficulty  summoning  words  in 
which  to  thank  him  for  his  visit. 

' '  I  am  only  too  happy  to  be  of 
the  slightest  service  to  you,  madam, " 
returned  Mr.  Holmes,  courteously,  as 
he  looked  upon  her  with  admiration 
and  a  perplexed  gaze,  which  showed 
her  face  was  familiar  to  him.  Pres- 
ently he  nodded  to  Dolores,  who  had 
shrank  into  the  darkest  corner  of  the 
room,  and  then  took  the  seat  La  Gue- 
rita offered. 

Trembling  from  head  to  foot,  she 
sank  into  a  chair  opposite  him.  She 


strove  to  command  her  voice,  but  it 
shook  as  she  said  :  ' '  You  are  doubt- 
less curious  to  know  why  I  have  sent 
for  you.  I  will  explain. " 

She  attempted  to  continue,  but 
words  failed  her.  She  sprang  to  her 
feet,  tore  back  the  curtains  from  the 
window,  and  turned  toward  her  won- 
dering visitor,  exclaiming:  "Is  my 
face  familiar  to  you  ?  Do  you  know 
me  ?  Do  you  know  me ? " 

Startled  and  disconcerted  by  her 
strange  action  and  abrupt  query,  Mr. 
Holmes  regarded  her  with  amaze- 
ment, knowing  that  her  face  was 
familiar,  but  totally  unable  to  say 
where  he  had  seen  its  like  before. 

* '  You  are  puzzled  !  Think,  think, 
Mr.  Holmes!" 

Thus  cried  La  Guerita,  standing 
before  him,  trembling  with  excite- 
ment, dazzling  his  vision  by  her 
flashing  eyes,  her  glowing  cheeks. 
"Think!  think!  think!"  she  reiter- 
ated, each  exclamation  tending  rather 
to  baffle  than  accelerate  his  mind. 

He  began  to  imagine  that  he  stood 
in  the  presence  of  a  mad  woman,  and 
each  moment  grew  more  nervous  and 
confused. 

"What,  does  your  memory  fail 
you  ? "  cried  La  Guerita.  ' '  Look  ! 
this  will  strengthen  it,"  and  with  a 
grasp  as  strong  as  iron  she  caught  the 
arm  of  the  trembling  quadroon,  and 
drew  her  to  her  side. 

' '  Good  God  !  "  ejaculated  the  plant- 
er, springing  from  his  chair,  "you  are 
the  daughter  of  Dolores  Holmes  !  " 

At  his  words  all  her  mad  excite- 
ment died  out.  She  turned  from  her 
mother  with  a  gesture  of  contempt, 
saying  bitterly  :  "  I  am  the  daughter 
of  Dolores  Holmes  !  " 

The  poor  woman  burst  into  tears, 


In  Bonds. 


71 


and  threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  her 
pitiless  daughter,  entreating  her  to  tell 
her  why  she  had  come  back  to  pub- 
lish her  shame. 

' '  I  beg  of  you  to  say  nothing,  for 
a  few  minutes,  at  least,"  said  Mr. 
Holmes,  helplessly  passing  his  hand 
over  his  brow,  like  one  awakening 
from  a  perplexing  dream,  ' '  I  thought 
you  called  yourself  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Harry  Grey. " 

She  answered  him  composedly : 
• '  I  am  the  widow  of  the  man  who 
was  known  to  you  by  the  name  of 
Harry  Grey.  I  was  his  proud  and 
happy  wife,  until  a  villain  stabbed 
him  to  the  heart  by  revealing  the  story 
of  my  birth  ! "' 

She  shrieked  out  the  last  words, 
adding  frantically  :  - '  How  could  he 
live  when  he  knew  that  his  love,  his 
honor  had  been  given  into  the  hands 
of  a  base-born  slave  ? " 

A  deathly  pallor  overspread  her 
face  as  she  spoke  these  words.  Not 
knowing  what  to  say  or  do,  Mr. 
Holmes  entreated  her  to  be  calm,  to 
seat  herself,  to  cease  speaking. 

But  she  heeded  not  his  words,  but 
still  standing,  with  her  mother  crouch- 
ing at  her  feet,  she  told  in  disjointed, 
sometimes  almost  incoherent,  senten- 
ces, the  story*  of  her  woes. 

She  mentioned  no  names,  yet  she 
made  the  tale  quite  plain  to  the  un- 
derstanding of  her  hearers;  and  when 
it  was  ended  Norton  Holmes  asked 
in  amazement,  as  Dolores  had  done, 
why  she  had  returned  to  acknowledge 
her  origin. 

Dolores  hushed  her  sobs,  and  half 
raised  herself  to  hear  the  answer. 

Leaning  across  the  table  and  look- 
ing the  planter  steadily  in  the  face,  La 
Guerita  said,  in  low,  thrilling  tones  : 


"Norton  Holmes,  I  have  come  to 
end  my  life  as  it  began,  to  cast  from 
me  my  false  position.  I  have  come 
to  be  a  slave !  " 

For  some  moments  Norton  Holmes 
regarded  her  with  a  startled  gaze, 
scarcely  believing  that  he  heard  aright, 
and  totally  unable  to  grasp  the  full 
meaning  of  her  words.  Not  so  Do- 
lores. She  had  instantly  compre- 
hended them,  and  cried  : 

- '  Alas,  alas !  she  is  mad  !  she  is 
mad ! " 

"What  was  it  you  said  ?"  he  ask- 
ed at  length  ;  "Was  it  that  you  had 
come  here  to  be  a  slave  ? " 

• '  Yes,  your  slave  ! " 

"My  slave ?  I  have  no  claim  up- 
on you  ;  you  were  freed  years  ago  by 
Acton  Holmes  !  " 

-  - 1  know  that  you  have  no  claim 
upon  me, "  she  said,  -  -  but  I  am  free 
to  give  you  one.     I  must — I  will  re- 
turn to  slavery  !     Freedom  has  been 
my  curse  !     It  has  made  me  a  deso- 
late widow,  without  hope  in  the  world 
or  in  God  ! " 

"  If  you  return  to  slavery  that  will 
not  be  changed, "  began  Mr.  Holmes, 
but  she  interrupted  him,  crying  : 

• '  It  will  be  my  atonement !  " 

•  •  For  what  ? "  he  demanded,  in  as- 
tonishment. 

La  Guerita  laughed  wildly.  - '  For 
what  ?  He  asks  me  for  what !  He 
asks  me  for  what  I  would  render 
atonement  !  He  asks  that  of  the  wife 
whose  husband  died  for  very  shame 
of  her." 

Mr.  Holmes  gazed  upon  her  for 
some  moments  in  sad  perplexity,  say- 
ing at  length  in  a  voice  of  compas- 
sion :  • '  Poor  lady,  poor  lady  !  I 
pity  you  ! " 

"Then  you  will  help  me!"  she 


72 


In  Bonds. 


entreated,  clasping  her  hands  pas- 
sionately together.  ' '  You  think  me 
mad,  but  I  am  not  so  ;  I  shall  be  if 
you  deny  my  prayer  !  I  will  not  live 
if  you  send  me  back  to  that  place 
where  my  husband  lies  buried  ! " 

"You  forget  that  I  do  not  even 
know  where  it  is,"  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
soothingly,  "and  indeed  I  would  not 
send  you  back  if  I  could.  Become 
my  guest ;  your  friends  shall  never 
take  you  to  your  home  while  it  is 
hateful  to  you. " 

1 '  No,  no,  no  ! "  returned  La  Gue- 
rita,  ' '  I  will  never  be  a  guest  in  any 
house.  Make  me  your  slave,  and 
above  all  keep  the  secret  I  have  given 
you  inviolate  ;  let  no  one  know  who 
I  am  or  whence  I  came. " 

' '  I  will  not,  I  will  not ! "  exclaim- 
ed Mr.  Holmes;  "Good  God!  I 
know  not  what  to  do.  If  I  might 
consult  my  lawyer." 

"Do  so,  "said  La  Guerita  ;  "Is 
he  a  man  of  honor,  who  can  keep  a 
a  secret  ? " 

' '  Yes,  indeed  ;  and  in  all  things 
Ernest  Gordon  will  advise  us  well. " 

Dolores  had  been  listening  in  silent 
horror  until  these  words  were  spoken, 
then  she  raised  herself  and  cried  en- 
treatingly :  ' '  Don't  speak  to  Ernest 
Gordon  ;  let  it  be  any  one  but  him  !  " 

Mr.  Holmes  turned  toward  her 
frowningly,  with  a  sharp  reproof  on 
his  lips,  which  was,  however,  checked 
by  a  knock  at  the  door. 

O  mamma !  "  exclaimed  Harold, 
as  it  was  opened,  "Just  see  what 
beautiful  flowers  I've  got !  Put  a 
rose  in  your  hair ;  there,  that  pretty 
white  rose." 

He  stopped  suddenly  upon  seeing 
the  strange  gentleman,  who  indeed 
arrested  his  attention  by  placing  his 


hand  beneath  the  boy's  chin,  and 
raising  it  to  meet  his  careful  scrutiny. 
"Ah,"  he  muttered,  "Acton 
Holmes  can  never  be  forgotten  while 
that  child  lives. " 

' '  Child,  what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"Harry  Grey,"  he  said,  readily, 
glancing  at  his  mother,  as  if  for  ap- 
probation for  remembering  so  well 
the  lesson  she  had  given  him. 

Norton  Holmes  arose  to  depart. 
He  was  glad  that  the  appearance  of 
the  child  gave  him  an  excuse  for  hur- 
rying away ;  he  wanted  to  leave  the 
presence  of  the  beautiful  young  wid- 
ow that  he  might  ponder  her  words. 
He  said  something  of  this  as  he  suf- 
fered the  child  to  escape. 

' '  You  will  remember  that  you  are 
pledged  to  secrecy,  and  that  your 
lawyer  also  must  be, "  said  La  Gueri- 
ta. ' '  Send  him  to  me  and  I  will  tell 
you  all.  Till  to-morrow,  good-by. " 

"She  bade  me  farewell  with  the 
air  of  a  princess,"  muttered  Norton 
Holmes,  as  he  descended  the  stairs. 
' '  How  can  she  even  dream  of  be- 
coming a  slave  ?  The  idea  is  pre- 
posterous. Ah,  I  have  it ;  Dolores 
was  right.  The  woman  is  mad  ! " 

He  paced  the  long  piazza  in  a  deep 
study,  saying  to  himself  at  length, 
"I'll  see  the  matter  through!  I'll 
send  Tom  home  with  an  excuse  for 
my  absence,  and  see  Gordon  this  very 
day. " 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  Thinks't  thou  there  are  no  serpents  in  the  world 
But  those  who  glide  along  the  grassy  sod, 
And  sting  the  luckless  foot  that  presses  them  ? 
There  are,  who,  in  the  path  of  social  life, 
Do  bask  their  spotted  skins  in  fortune's  sun, 
And  sting  the  soul." 


"ERNEST  GORDON,  Att'y-at-Law. " 
So  read  the  golden   letters  of  a  sign- 


In  Bonds. 


73 


board,  that  had  swung  for  more  than 
twenty  years  before  a  small  brick 

house,  in  the  county-town  of  M , 

in  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  It 
had  attracted  but  little  attention  when 
first  placed  there  by  a  poor  and  un- 
known young  man,  but  in  course  of 
time  it  became  the  pride  of  even' 
good  citizen,  being,  indeed,  to  them 
the  very  symbol  of  wealth  and  respec- 
tability. 

Early  in  his  youth,  Earnest  Gordon 
had  been  called  a  ' '  rising  man, "  and 
ere  his  fiftieth  year,  he  had,  in  the 

opinion  of  the  people   of   M , 

attained  the  very  acme  of  human 
glory. 

By  a  steady  application  to  busi- 
ness, a  thorough  knowledge  of  his 
profession,  and,  it  was  said,  a  strictly 
honorable  application  of  it,  he  had 
made  himself  master  of  a  large  for- 
tune, and  raised  himself  to  a  high 
and  unmovable  position ;  he  held,  it 
was  said,  the  most  cherished  secrets 
of  scores  of  families,  and,  therefore, 
his  private  as  well  as  public  influence 
was  almost  unlimited.  Thrice  had 
he  represented  the  people  in  Con- 
gress, and  was  the  acknowledged 
leader  of  public  opinion  in  M . 

Lamentable,  indeed,  would  have 
been  considered  the  ignorance  of  any 

person  who  had  ever  been  in  M , 

who  confessed  to  not  knowing  Ern- 
est Gordon,  at  least  by  sight,  or  to 
any  doubt  as  to  the  whereabouts  of 
his  office.  There  it  was  that  the 

sages  and  wits  of  M most  did 

congregate;  there  the  news  of  the 
day  was  canvassed  ;  there  the  affairs 
of  nations  were  discussed  and  settled. 

This   office   was   ever  a   pleasant 


place  to  a  certain  class  in  M- 


,    To 

the  idle,  the  ignorant,  the  ill-born,  it 
10 


was  unenterable,  save  on  business  ; 
while  to  kindred  spirits  of  its  master 
its  doors  were  ever  open,  and  never 
so  in  vain. 

The  passer-by,  early  on  a  sultry 
afternoon  in  July,  1859,  would  have 
imagined  it  a  club-room,  rather  than 
the  office  of  a  staid  and  venerated 
judge.  A  knot  of  gentlemen  were 
gathered  upon  the  shaded  porch,  sit- 
ting or  standing  in  various  attitudes, 
more  expressive  of  ease  than  grace, 
and  all  indicative  of  southern  life. 
Business  hours  were  over,  and  the 
group  of  lawyers  and  merchants  lazi- 
ly abandoned  themselves  to  the  relax- 
ation called  for  by  the  heat  of  the 
day. 

But  Ernest  Gordon,  ever  active, 
ever  vigilant,  did  not  suffer  the  leis- 
ure hours  passed  in  his  office  to  be 
wholly  unproductive.  Local  news 
first  canvassed  and  dismissed,  politi- 
cal discussions  usually  followed,  and 
upon  this  afternoon  promised  to  be 
of  an  unusually  exciting  character. 

Ernest  Gordon,  as  was  his  wont, 
said  little,  but  listened  most  atten- 
tively to  each  opinion  as  it  was  ad- 
vanced, smiling  thoughtfully  that  day 
upon  the  estimates  cast  upon  the 
characters  of  the  candidates  for  the 
Presidency,  and  their  chances  ot 
election. 

' '  Democracy  will  not  have  the 
easy  victory  that  you  imagine,"  he 
said  once  ;  ' '  the  Republicans  are 
strong — very  strong.  I  tell  you  that 
slavery-,  the  basis  of  our  Southern 
Democracy,  has  of  late  been  grow- 
ing weak  before  its  opponents ;  you 
know  that — you,  who  have  seen  it 
reel  before  the  puny  blows  of  a  nov- 
elist, and  a  mere  compiler  of  statis- 
tics— you,  who  have  witnessed  Nthe 


74 


In   Bonds. 


burning  of  a  tissue  of  lies,  called 
' '  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin, "  and  the  pal- 
try book  of  Helper.  We  all  know 
how  the  institution  reels,  when  we 
even  fear  those  frivolous  missiles  that 
have  been  hurled  against  it. " 

"They  are  not  worth  speaking 
of/'  said  a  pompous-looking  gentle- 
man, looking  at  Mr.  Gordon  with 
much  surprise  ;  ' '  the  deeds  of  Con- 
gress, sir — -the  works  of  the  nation 
— those  are  what  we  must  look  to, 
not  the  highly-colored  pictures  of 
malicious  individuals. " 

Mr.  Gordon  again  smiled  in  his 
peculiar  manner.  " ' '  Those  highly- 
colored  pictures  are  what  influence 
most  the  minds  of  the  people,"  he 
said,  gravely ;  "so  'tis  in  wisdom 
that  we  cast  them  into  bonfires  ; 
there  have  been  many  of  late.  Yes, 
sir, "  he  added,  earnestly,  * '  these  iso- 
lated cases  of  the  wrongs  of  slavery, 
which  have  of  late  years  been  brought 
before  the  public,  have  done  more  to 
make  it  abhorrent  than  a  hundred 
years  of  legislation  would  have  done. " 

"Ah!" 

"Yes;  and  I  tell  you  further, 
that  were  it  possible  to  produce  one 
incontestable  case  where  slavery  had 
been  preferred  to  freedom,  not  only 
for  its  name — for  much,  indeed,  is 
in  a  name — but  for  its  strengthening 
and  genial  influence  upon  the  mind, 
it  would  do  more  to  reinstate  slavery 
in  the  affections  of  the  people  than 
all  the  strength  of  our  voices  and 
force  of  our  weapons  can  ever  do. " 

' '  Perhaps  so, "  admitted  one ;  ' '  but 
where  can  such  an  example  be  ob- 
tained. Negroes,  though,  without 
doubt,  happier  in  slavery  than  in  any 
other  state,  have  not  the  strength  of 
mind  to  acknowledge  it.  Were  my 


own  an  exception  I  would  gain  you 
the  wished-for  example  by  freeing 
them  all  to-morrow ;  but,  faith,  I 
fear  they  are  all  such  fools  the  small- 
est among  them  would  cling  to  lib- 
erty, and  I  should  be  a  penniless 
victim  of  misplaced  confidence." 

There  was  a  general  laugh  at  these 
words,  in  the  midst  of  which  Ernest 
Gordon  rose  to  welcome  a  new- 
comer, who  seemed  well  known  to 
all,  and  whose  appearance  elicited 
exclamations  of :  "  How'd  you  do, 
Squire  ?  WThen  did  you  come  to 
town  ?  All  well  ? " 

1 '  All  well,  I  thank  you, "  returned 
the  gentleman,  as  he  shook  hands 
with  all  in  succession ;  ' '  busy  dis- 
cussing politics,  I  hear.  Well,  well, 
I  hope  all  will  go  right ;  these  are 
troublous  times.  Gordon,  excuse 
me,  I  am  only  in  town  for  the  day — 
can  I  have  two  words  alone  with 
you  ? " 

He  spoke  hurriedly,  and  seemed 
under  the  influence  of  some  great 
nervous  excitement. 

"Come  into  the  office,"  said  the 
lawyer ;  "I  am  always  ready  for  busi- 
ness, you  know." 

He  ushered  his  visitor  into  an  in- 
ner room,  and  closed  and  locked  the 
door. 

"That's  right,  Gordon,  that's 
right !  "  said  Mr.  Holmes  ;  "no  one 
must  hear  us  ;  for,  by  Jove,  I  have  a 
secret  for  you  that  will  make  your 
ears  tingle  !  " 

He  spoke  excitedly,  yet  with  a  cer- 
tain childish  delight  almost  pitiful  to 
witness  in  a  man — a  man,  too,  of 
middle  age,  tall,  and  muscular  in 
frame,  and  with  a  countenance  that 
would  have  been  sickeningly  hand- 
some, but  for  the  lines  around  the 


In  Bonds. 


75 


mouth,  that  plainly  indicated  a  vac- 
illating mind. 

The  subtle  lawyer  knew  his  client 
well.  He  smiled  at  the  sudden  out- 
break, and  said,  quietly  :  ' '  No  one 
can  hear  us,  Mr.  Holmes.  Whatever 
your  business  is,  you  can  safely  in- 
trust it  to  me,  you  know  that?  " 

"I  do,  indeed  ! "  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
almost  gratefully  ;  "  I  shall  never  for- 
get how  well  you  managed  John's  af- 
fairs, and  that  sad  fellow,  Claude's. " 

"And,  of  course,  he  has  been 
getting  into  trouble  again,"  said  the 
lawyer,  impatiently. 

' '  For  once  you  are  wrong  ;  he  has 
been  doing  nothing  of  the  sort," 
returned  Mr.  Holmes,  laughing  ; 
"and,  in  fact,  he  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  affair  I  have  come  to  consult 
you  upon.  But  the  most  extraordi- 
nary thing  has  happened. " 

1 '  Pray  explain  !  "  exclaimed  the 
lawyer,  with  more  haste  than  cour- 
tesy ;  "whom  does  the  matter  refer 
to!" 

' '  Oh,  to  a  dozen  people,  but 
mostly  to  Acton  Holmes. " 

"To  Acton  Holmes  !  "  exclaimed 
Gordon,  in  amazement ;  ' '  why,  he 
has  been  dead  six  months  or  more  ; 
his  will  is  proved,  and  everything 
seemed  correct ;  what  has  turned  up 
now  ? " 

"His  daughter!  " 

"My  dear  sir,  I  don't  under- 
stand you,"  exclaimed  the  lawyer, 
blankly. 

' '  I  have  actually  puzzled  a  lawyer 
at  last, "said  Mr.  Holmes,  laughing; 
' '  why,  Gordon,  you  don 't  mean  to 

tell   me   you   have  been  in  M 

twenty  years  and  not  heard  its  choic- 
est bit  of  gossip  ? " 

' '  That  can 't  well  be  "  he  returned, 


smiling;  "yet  for  the  life  of  me  I 
cannot  tell  what  you  mean.  You  tell 
me  Acton's  daughter  is  here  ;  he  was 
never  married  ;  how  can  I  tell  what 
you  mean  ? " 

"I  suppose  you  know  Dolores 
Holmes  ?"  was  the  reply. 

' '  All  the  town  does  that, "  answer- 
ed Gordon.  "Oh,  Oh!  I  see 
now,"  he  added,  his  quick  mind 
seizing  upon  the  clue  thrown  toward 
him;  "I  remember  now — she  was 
Acton's  slave  some  years  ago,  I  be- 
lieve, and  she  had  two  or  three  child- 
ren, that  went  no  one  knows  where, 
hadn  't  she  ?  " 

"It  appears  that  Acton  knew 
where  they  were,  and  one  of  them 
has  found  her  way  back. " 

"What,  to  assert  herself  Acton's 
daughter?" 

"Not  at  all  !  not  at  all  !  Good 
God,  Gordon,  it  is  wonderful — it  is 
terrible  ;  she  has  come  back  to  own 
herself  Dolores'  daughter — to  re- 
enter  slavery  !  " 

For  a  moment  the  lawyer,  ordi- 
narily calm  under  the  most  excit- 
ing circumstances,  was  overwhelmed 
with  astonishment,  then  he  burst  into 
a  laugh  of  uncontrollable  delight 
' '  Come  back  to  slavery  !  "  he  almost 
shouted — "Comeback!  Here  is  a 
triumph  for  us  !  She  is  young  !  Is 
she  pretty?  Has  she  been  supported 
well !  Tell  me  all — tell  me  every- 
thing. This  is  a  triumph,  indeed ! " 

CHAPTER  XV. 

NORTON  HOLMES  looked  at  the 
lawyer  in  amazement.  Until  the 
cause  of  his  hilarity  was  explained, 
he  was  inclined  to  think  that  he  had 
taken  leave  of  his  senses. 


In  Bonds. 


"  Your  mirth  is  uncalled  for,"  he 
said  at  length,  "for  I  have  passed 
my  word  that  no  one  shall  be  made 
acquainted  with  her  history.  She, 
in  some  way,  obliged  me  to  do 
that." 

' '  Obliged  you  !  obliged  you, "  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Gordon  incredulously  ; 
' '  Why  what  sort  of  a  \voman  is  she 
to  be  able  to  do  that !" 

' '  You  had  better  go  and  see  her, " 
returned  Mr.  Holmes,  "for  I  con- 
fess myself  totally  unable  to  give  you 
a  just  idea  of  her. " 

' '  I'll  go, "  said  the  lawyer  prompt- 

iy. 

"That  would  be  best,"  observed 
Mr.  Holmes  doubtfully,  "if  she 
would  consent  to  receive  you." 

Mr.  Gordon  laughed.  ' '  Receive 
me  ;  why  certainly  she  will.  Amuse 
yourself  with  the  papers  for  a  short 
time,  and  I  will  prove  it  to  you. " 

But  nearly  two  hours  elapsed  be- 
fore he  re-entered  the  office. 

"You  are  right,"  he  said,  "she 
is  truly  an  extraordinary  woman.  I 
left  you  without  first  learning  her  his- 
tory, that  I  might  judge  her  character 
from  hearing  it  from  her  own  lips. " 

' '  And  what  conclusion  have  you 
arrived  at?" 

"None  ;  positively  none.  She  is 
a  perfect  enigma. " 

"There  is  no  doubt  that  she  is 
insane. " 

"Pardon  me,  I  see  nothing  like 
insanity  about  her.  We  lawyers  are 
in  the  habit  of  looking  beneath  the 
surface.  That  woman  is  either  act- 
ing a  part  to  obtain  some  hidden  ob- 
ject, or  she  is  blindly  following  the 
instinct  of  her  race,  who  ever  shrink 
from  care,  and  joyfully  accept  slavery 
as  a  means  of  throwing  the  respon- 


sibilities of  life  upon  another's  shoul- 
ders. " 

"And  you  think  that  for  that 
reason,  Africans  are  happier  in  slavery 
than  when  free  ? " 

"  If  in  a  civilized  country,  yes. 
And  to  prove  that,  I  have  long  wished 
for  the  example  which  has  now  pre- 
sented itself.  But  unfortunately  we 
can  at  present  make  no  use  of  it. 
Not  only  our  pledge  of  secresy  but 
the  safety  of  the  woman  prevents  that. 
If  her  tale  is  true,  the  slightest  pub- 
licity would  call  her  friends  to  her 
rescue. " 

' '  Which  would  certainly  be  the 
best  thing  that  could  happen, "  said 
Mr.  Holmes.  ' '  I  am  sure  I  don't 
want  her." 

"Why  she  will  be  invaluable  to 
you, "exclaimed  Mr.  Gordon.  Where 
will  you  find  such  a  governess  for 
your  children.  Ah,  how  happy 
should  I  be  had  she  chosen  me  for 
her  master. " 

"Adela  would  never  consent  to 
it,"  muttered  Mr.  Holmes. 

The  lawyer  frowned.  Miss  Adela 
Holmes  was  one  of  the  few  ladies  for 
whom  he  entertained  any  feeling  but 
those  of  courteous  indifference.  But 
from  her  childhood  she  had  been  an- 
tagonistic to  him.  He  admired  her 
character,  but  could  not  sympathize 
with  it,  and  silently  determined  that 
in  that  one  case,  at  least,  his  will 
should  triumph  over  hers. 

"Let  us  put  this  business  aside," 
said  the  lawyer  suavely,  ' '  until  after 
we  have  dined.  I  have  no  doubt 
but  that  your  objections  to  La  Gue- 
rita  DeCuba's  proposition  will  vanish 
when  you  consider  it  in  all  its  points. " 

They  left  the  office,  and  walked 
slowly  down  the  shaded  street. 


In  Bonds. 


77 


1 '  I  utterly  refuse  to  look  at  the 
matter  in  a  political  light, "  said  Mr. 
Holmes.  ' '  I  shall  try  to  do  what  is 
best  for  the  widow,  and  I  am  sure,  if 
Adela  were  consulted,  she  would  set 
us  just  right. " 

' '  Oh,  without  doubt, ''  assented  the 
lawyer,  closing  his  lips  determinedly, 
as  he  added  in  thought :  ' '  But  she 
shall  never  have  a  chance  to  thwart 
me  in  this  matter.  Before  this  time 
to-morrow,  that  mad  woman  shall  be 
a  slave. " 

The  lawyer's  task  was  a  difficult 
one,  but  he  carried  it  forward  without 
flinching.  By  the  arts  of  persuasion 
he  knew  so  well  how  to  employ,  he 
succeeded  in  a  few  hours,  not  only 
in  satisfying  Mr.  Holmes  that  his 
duty  lay  in  the  enslavement  of  La 
Guerita  DeCuba,  but  also  in  silencing 
the  almost  frantic  mother,  who,  with 
prayers  and  tears,  entreated  him  to 
save  her  child  from  the  bonds  she 
craved. 

The  next  day  all  clients  were  de- 
nied admittance  to  Ernest  Gordon. 
He  devoted  himself  to  Mr.  Holmes, 
retaining  him  by  his  side  while  he 
examined  various  documents,  and 
prepared  others,  going  with  him  in 
the  morning  to  visit  La  Guerita,  who 
only  begged  that  there  might  be  no 
delay  in  the  necessary  formalities. 

The  lawyer  courteously  agreed  to 
her  demand  for  haste.  Early  in  the 
afternoon  a  paper  was  ready  for  her 
signature,  in  which  she  voluntarily 
resigned  her  freedom,  and  chose 
Norton  Holmes  as  her  future  master. 

Mr.  Gordon  read  it  slowly  and 
carefully,  pausing  at  times  to  explain 
any  doubtful  passage.  La  Guerita 
listened  with  rapt  attention. 

"You    have   heard   the  terms  of 


that  document,"  said  the  lawyer, 
"are  you  ready  to  accede  to  them  ?" 
"  Quite  ready,"  she  answered 
firmly.  ' '  I  have  Mr.  Holmes'  verbal 
promise  never  to  sell  me,  or  part  me 
from  my  child.  That  is  all  I  require. 
I  am  ready  to  sign  away  my  free- 
dom." 

"You  will  then  deliver  to  me,  as 
Mr.  Holmes'  attorney,  your  papers 
of  emancipation. " 

' '  Certainly  ;  they  are  in  the  hands 
of  Dolores  Holmes. " 

Mr.  Gordon  turned  toward  the 
quadroon:  "You  hear  what  your 
daughter  says  ;  give  me  the  paper, 
Dolores. " 

' '  Never, "  she  exclaimed,  clasping 
her  hands  on  her  bosom.  ' '  She  is 
mad,  I  tell  you !  She  shall  not 
sacrifice  herself;  she  is  mad  !'' 

"  I  am  not  mad, "  said  La  Guerita 
in  a  voice  of  thrilling  earnestness. 
' '  If  you  have  a  God,  pray  him  to 
make  me  so,  or  else  give  me  peace 
yourself.  Let  me  make  my  atone- 
ment— I  command  you  not  to  thwart 
me.  Give  me  the  paper. " 

Dolores  drew  the  folded  paper  from 
her  bosom,  and  started  forward,  as  the 
lawyer  took  it  from  her  hand  and 
glanced  over  its  contents. 

1 '  Now  you  may  sign, "  he  said. 

Dolores  covered  her  face  and 
groaned,  and  Norton  Holmes  laid 
his  hand  upon  the  arm  of  La  Gue- 
rita, saying  loudly  and  in  a  voice  of 
entreaty  :  ' '  Consider  the  matter  ; 
consider  it  I  beg.  Do  you  know 
what  that  bond  will  make  you  ? " 

"I  know  what  my  freedom  has 
made  me, "  she  cried.  ' '  It  has  made 
me  a  blight  and  a  curse  !  It  has 
made  me  a  murderess  !  Stand  back 
and  let  me  sign  ! " 


In  Bonds. 


Mr.  Gordon  threw  open  the  door, 
and  the  landlord  and  his  brother  en- 
tered. ' '  These  will  be  your  wit- 
nesses," he  said,  placing  the  paper 
before  her. 

She  seized  the  pen  eagerly,  and 
without  a  pause,  in  large,  firm  char- 
acters, signed  the  fatal  deed.  It 
was  then  signed  by  the  witnesses, 
who,  unconscious  of  the  nature  of 
the  document,  bowed,  and  with- 
drew. 

Those  who  remained,  expected  to 
see  La  Guerita  DeCuba  swoon,  or 
burst  into  tears  after  her  desperate 
deed  was  done,  but  she  sat  down 
quietly  taking  her  child  upon  her 
knees,  and  whispering  softly  over 
him  that  the  anguish  was  passed,  the 
atonement  was  begun. 

They  left  her  alone.  Dolores 
rushed  forth  to  her  cabin  to  weep  and 
pray,  while  Norton  Holmes,  feeling 
half  guilty,  as  one  who  had  blindly 
consented  to  the  death  of  the  inno- 
cent, walked  slowly  down  the  street, 
arm  in  arm  with  the  triumphant 
lawyer,  who,  rubbing  his  hands  de- 
lightedly together,  exclaimed  :  "The 
best  day's  work  I  ever  did  in  my  life. 
Look  back  at  your  slave,  Mr.  Holmes, 
she  is  looking  at  her  master  from  the 
window. " 

"  Good  God,  it  is  dreadful,"  sigh- 
ed the  planter,  ' '  and  what  will  Adela 
say?" 

The  lawyer  smiled,  and  glanced 
triumphantly  back  at  the  window 
where  La  Guerita  still  quietly  sat. 
Oh,  how  madly  she  would  have 
started  from  her  repose  had  she 
known  that  the  moment  she  signed 
the  fatal  bond,  her  brother  Fabean 
stood  at  the  door  of  Enola,  and  asked 
for  his  lost  sister. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

"  The  past  is  spent  and  done  with,  and  the 
future  is  uncertain." 

Antoninus. 

IT  was  arranged  by  Mr.  Gordon, 
on  the  following  day,  that  La  Guerita 
should  quietly  leave  the  hotel,  and, 
in  order  to  baffle  the  curious,  that  she 
should  take  tickets  for  one  of  the 
southern  towns,  but  leave  the  cars  at 

R ,  a  station  seven  miles  east  of 

Holmsford.  There  Mr.  Holmes, 
who  had  returned  to  his  home,  was 
to  meet  her,  and  conduct  her  to  his 
estate. 

She  left  the  hotel  without  again  see- 
ing her  mother  ;  she  wished  to  forget 
all  the  past,  and  unconsciously  shrank 
from  the  pain  of  meeting  one  who 
had  been  so  intimately  connected 
with  it,  for  she  could  not  yet  forgive 
her,  or  palliate  her  sin. 

Harold  was  delighted  beyond  mea- 
sure to  leave  the  rooms  in  which  he 
had  been  almost  constantly  confined, 
and  as  they  passed  rapidly  through 
the  country,  monotonous  though  it 
was,  he  found  a  thousand  objects  to 
arouse  his  wonder  and  delight.  They 
were  uncared  for  and  unnoticed  by 
his  mother,  who  sat  beside  him  un- 
conscious of  the  wondering  and  ad- 
miring glances  cast  upon  her,  or  of 
aught  that  was  passing.  It  seemed 
to  her  a  very  long  time  before  they 

reached  the  station  at  R .     They 

entered  it  at  last,  very  slowly,  and  she 
regarded  it  with  idle  curiosity,  dream- 
ing not  how  valuable  her  scrutiny 
would  one  day  prove. 

She  exchanged  her  seat  in  the  cars 
for  one  in  the  carriage,  in  which  Mr. 
Holmes  had  come  to  meet  her,  but 
felt  not  the  slightest  agitation  or  curi- 


In  Bonds. 


79 


osity  concerning  the  people  she  would 
shortly  meet.  During  the  long  drive 
Mr.  Holmes  vainly  endeavored  to 
draw  her  into  conversation,  but  he 
soon  perceived  that  her  thoughts  were 
far  away.  She  seemed,  indeed,  lost 
to  the  present,  until  Mr.  Holmes, 
who  had  been  talking  with  Harold, 
said : 

' '  Look  out  of  the  window,  Har- 
ry, and  across  the  field,  you  will  see 
a  large  white  house  ;  that  is  Holms- 
ford,  where  you  are  going  to  live. " 

Then  La  Guerita  suddenly  aroused 
herself.  At  first  she  saw  nothing 
more  than  a  large  white  house,  half 
hidden  by  tall  trees,  and  a  long  row 
of  negro  cabins,  which,  with  numer- 
ous out-houses,  almost  formed  the 
appearance  of  a  small  village.  Upon 
approaching  nearer,  La  Guerita  per- 
ceived that  the  principal  building  was 
erected,  after  the  fashion  of  many 
Southern  houses,  in  two  parts,  which 
were  connected  and  surrounded  by 
piazzas,  which  were  at  that  season 
festooned  with  flowering  vines.  In- 
deed, the  house  formed  the  center  of 
a  mass  of  shrubbery,  that  extended 
for  some  acres.  The  month  of  roses 
had  passed,  yet  thousands  were 
blooming  still  in  the  gardens  of 
Holmsford,  enchanting  the  eye  and 
filling  the  air  with  fragrance. 

1 '  Adela  has  a  passion  for  roses, " 
remarked  Mr.  Holmes,  as  he  assisted 
La  Guerita  from  the  carriage,  and 
ushered  her  through  the  garden  to  a 
side  door  of  the  house,  ' '  and  some 
taste,  you  will  perceive,  for  other 
flowers  as  well. " 

That  was  readily  apparent,  if  she 
had  anything  to  do  with  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  garden.  Great  was  the 
variety  of  plants — nearly  every  species 


of  native  flowers  and  many  exotics — 
all  placed  with  such  delicate  regard 
to  form  and  color  that  each  attracted 
its  due  share  of  notice  without  in 
the  least  detracting  from  the  claims 
of  others.  Before  they  reached  the 
door  by  which  she  was  to  enter  the 
house,  La  Guerita  for  an  instant  lost 
the  remembrance  of  the  Past  in  ad- 
miration of  the  beauty  before  her. 

She  did  not  notice  the  wondering 
eyes  that  from  the  kitchen  and  cabins 
watched  her  appearance,  and,  in- 
deed, thought  of  nothing  but  the  un- 
expected beauty  of  Holmsford,  until 
Mr.  Holmes,  after  leading  her  across 
a  wide  hall,  opened  a  door  and  ush- 
ered her  into  a  room,  by  the  appear- 
ance of  which  La  Guerita  supposed 
herself  to  be  in  the  common  sitting- 
room  of  the  house. 

A  young  lady  was  standing  near 
the  window,  so  engrossed  in  thought 
that  she  did  not  notice  their  en- 
trance until  Mr.  Holmes  exclaimed  : 
"Why,  Adela,  are  you  dreaming?" 

In  the  moment's  interval  that  pre- 
ceded his  words,  La  Guerita  had 
marked  the  outline  of  a  tall,  grace- 
ful figure,  arrayed  in  a  softly  flowing 
material  of  a  delicate  lavender  color. 
She  started  as  the  name  of  Adela 
wras  pronounced,  remembering  that 
she  had  heard  her  likened  to  Claude 
Leveredge. 

' '  You  came  in  very  softly,  papa, " 
she  said,  in  a  musical  voice,  ' '  or  I 
was  lost  in  reverie ;  I  did  not  hear 
you. " 

Then  for  a  moment  there  was  si- 
lence, while  the  young  lady  looked 
at  La  Guerita  with  some  slight  sur- 
prise upon  her  countenance.  Never 
in  her  life  had  La  Guerita  DeCuba 
found  her  expectations  so  much  at 


8o 


In  Bonds. 


fault ;  she  had  fancied  Miss  Holmes 
dark  and  stern  ;  she  was,  on  the  con- 
trary, remarkably  fair,  and  wore  a 
a  gentle  though  firm  expression  rare- 
ly seen  upon  a  woman's  face.  One 
would  have  imagined  her  naturally 
free  from  hauteur,  but  capable  of 
readily  assuming  it.  La  Guerita  was 
no  ready  translator  of  expressions, 
but  she  instantly  detected  one  of  la- 
tent hostility  upon  the  face  of  Miss 
Holmes,  and  doubted  not  that  she 
would,  sooner  or  later,  feel  its  eifects. 
A  slight  frown  contracted  the  fore- 
head of  the  young  lady,  and  arched 
the  eyebrows,  which  were  remarka- 
ble for  their  beauty,  and  the  contrast 
of  their  dark-brown  hue  with  the 
golden  hair,  which  waved  slightly 
back  from  the  temples,  and  was  coil- 
ed in  a  large  knot  at  the  back  of  her 
well-formed  head. 

The  frown  darkened  on  her  deli- 
cate face,  and  her  full  red  lips  curl- 
ed slightly,  as  Mr.  Holmes  said  : 

' '  This,  Adela,  is  the — the  person 
I  was  speaking  to  you  about.  Rita 
— I  think  we  decided  you  should  be 
called  that? — this  is  my  daughter, 
Miss  Adela  Holmes,  whom  I  am  sure 
you  will  find  an  indulgent  mistress. " 

La  Guerita  started  as  the  last  words 
were  pronounced,  but  looking  in  the 
calm,  pale  face  before  her,  which  was 
at  that  moment  so  strikingly  expres- 
sive of  a  passionate  and  command- 
ing nature,  she  felt  that  she  was,  in- 
deed, in  the  presence  of  one  who 
would  rule  as  her  mistress,  not  only 
in  name,  but  in  reality. 

"She  is  younger  than  you  led  me 
to  suppose/' said  Miss  Holmes,  turn- 
ing to  her  father,  ' '  and  scarcely  looks 
as  if  she  would  be  a  fit  teacher  for 
Minna." 


La  Guerita  was  stung  with  a  deep 
sense  of  inferiority  by  having  her 
merits  thus  canvassed  in  her  pres- 
ence, much  in  the  same  way  that  one 
might  argue  the  qualities  of  a  bird  or 
dog.  Her  cheeks  burned  and  her 
head  swam  dizzily,  and  she  lelt  at 
once  the  shame  of  her  new  position. 

At  that  moment  Miss  Holmes 
caught  sight  of  Harold,  who  had  al- 
most hidden  himself  under  his  moth- 
er's flowing  mantle.  She  caught  him 
eagerly  by  the  arm,  drawing  him  to 
her,  as  she  exclaimed  : 

11  Oh,  the  beautiful,  beautiful 
child  !  O  papa,  how  could  she  be 
so  heartless — so  wicked  ? " 

' '  I  am  neither  heartless  nor  wick- 
ed !  "  exclaimed  La  Guerita,  clasping 
the  child  to  her  bosom  as  he  fled  to 
her,  alarmed  at  Miss  Holmes'  im- 
petuous manner;  "I  am  kind;  I 
am  gentle ;  I  am  merciful  ;  I  have 
saved  him  from  all  the  woes  that  I 
have  known ;  his  life  will  never  be 
embittered  as  mine  has  been. " 

As  she  stood  erect,  yet  trembling 
with  excitement,  her  eyes  flashing 
and  her  cheeks  aflame,  holding  her 
child  to  her  bosom  with  one  strong 
arm,  while  the  other  was  raised,  ex- 
pressive at  once  of  love  and  defi- 
ance, Adela  gazed  upon  her  in  un- 
feigned admiration,  scarcely  free  from 
alarm,  while  Norton  Holmes  once 
more  said  within  his  mind  :  "She  is 
mad !  " 

"I  should  advise  you  not  to  ex- 
cite yourself, "  said  Miss  Holmes,  af- 
ter a  moment's  silence,  in  a  tone  of 
great  sarcasm,  which  seemed  to  im- 
ply that  she  deemed  the  whole  an  ex- 
cellent piece  of  acting. 

1 '  Where  is  your  mother  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  Holmes. 


In  Bonds. 


81 


"In  her  room,  papa,  breaking 
her  heart  because  Minna  came  home 
from  the  swamp  an  hour  ago  with  a 
torn  apron  and  wet  feet. " 

Mr.  Holmes  smiled. 

"Indeed,  papa,  mamma  did  not 
appear  to  consider  the  matter  at  all 
amusing  ;  and  I  do  hope  this  person 
will  be  able  to  keep  the  children  in 
some  sort  of  order;  they  are  really 
enough  to  vex  a  saint. " 

' '  St.  Adela  !"  returned  Mr.  Holmes, 
laughing,  when  the  door  opened  and 
an  elderly  lady,  followed  by  a  little 
girl  of  seven,  entered  the  room. 

' '  Oh,  dear  Norton,  I  am  so  glad 
you  have  come !"  languidly  exclaimed 
the  lady  ;  "I  have  had  such  a  fright 
this  afternoon.  Minnie  came  home 
from  the  swamp,  where  a  thousand 
snakes  might  have  bitten  her,  you 
know,  with  a  torn  apron,  and  such 
tears,  such  slits,  such  rents,  as  if  she 
had  climbed  every  tree  in  the  place, 
and,  O  dear,  with  such  wet  feet !  she 
might  have  caught  her  death  of  cold  ! " 

' '  But  I  have  n't  though  !  "  said 
the  child,  pertly,  adding  as  her  father 
caressed  her  :  "  Mamma  said  to-day 
that  I  should  bring  her  gray  hairs 
with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  Now,  I 
should  like  to  know  how  I  am  to  do 
that  when  every  hair  on  her  head  is 
as  yellow  as  Adda's  ?  " 

"Hush  !  hush  !"  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
warningly,  and  turning  to  his  wife  : 
1 '  See,  Myra,  I  have  brought  you  a 
governess  for  the  children  ;  this  is 
Rita--" 

"And  I  am  very  glad  she  has 
come,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes,  languid- 
ly, while  Minna  rushed  from  the 
room  to  convey  the  doleful  tidings  to 
her  brothers.  ' '  Yes,  I  am  very  glabl 
she  has  come,"  she  repeated,  delib- 
11 


erately  surveying  her  new  servant : 
"I  do  hope  you  are  as  accomplished 
as  your  master  believes  you.  You 
know,  Norton,  these  octoroons  are 
often  pretty,  but  seldom  very  sensi- 
ble. Don't  you  think  there  is  a  queer 
look  about  this  one's  eyes  ?  Can  you 
play  the  piano,  Rita  ? " 

La  Guerita  was  bewildered  by  her 
strange  position  ;  she  had  never  for 
a  moment  imagined  what  her  posi- 
tion or  treatment  as  a  slave  would  be  ; 
she  seemed  suddenly  bereft  of  her 
identity;  she  was  an  automaton — a 
machine. 

' '  She  seems  very  stupid, "  com- 
mented Mrs.  Holmes  ;  ' '  take  her 
into  the  parlor,  Adela,  and  let  us 
hear  what  she  can  do. " 

Miss  Holmes  led  the  way  across 
the  hall  into  a  large  and  handsomely 
furnished  apartment.  The  sight  of 
the  piano  aroused  La  Guerita's  al- 
most dormant  faculties.  She  ap- 
proached it  eagerly,  and  seating  her- 
self, poured  all  the  wild  anguish  of 
her  soul  into  a  voluntary  of  such  ex- 
quisite pathos,  that  each  note  was  the 
expression  of  some  thought  of  love, 
or  grief,  or  madness. 

Adela  stood  entranced.  Mrs. 
Holmes  cried:  "Divine!  Where 
did  you  learn  to  play  like  that  ? " 

1 '  It  was  n't  an  hour  ago  that  I  shut 
and  locked  that  piano,"  ejaculated  a 
shrill  female  voice ;  ' '  not  one  hour 
ago,  and  I  thought  I  had  the  key  safe 
in  my  pocket. " 

All  started  at  these  words,  and  La 
Guerita,  with  a  deep  sigh,  awoke 
from  the  trance  into  which  the  melo- 
dy had  thrown  her,  and  in  which  she 
had  fancied  herself  in  the  parlor  of 
Enola,  with  Harold  bending  over 
her. 


In  Bonds. 


She  turned  quickly  as  the  shrill 
voice  fell  upon  her  ear,  and,  to  her 
surprise,  beheld  an  old  lady  standing 
in  the  door-way.  She  was  at  least 
seventy  years  old,  and  was  arrayed  in 
a  short  white  gown,  with  a  multiplici- 
ty of  round  capes,  of  all  colors  and 
all  sizes.  These,  from  the  roundness 
of  her  shoulders  and  an  habitual 
stoop,  gave  her  the  appearance  of  a 
hunchback,  which  was  increased  by 
the  strange,  vixenish  expression  of 
her  wrinkled  face,  around  which  the 
deep  borders  of  two  caps  vibrated 
tremblingly  when  she  moved  or 
spoke. 

All  this  La  Guerita  noticed  while 
the  old  lady's  attention  was  fixed  on 
Adela,  who  said,  very  quietly  : 

' '  I  have  a  key  of  my  own,  aunt. " 

' '  Yes,  that  is  always  the  way, "  she 
returned  vehemently  ;  ' '  It's  no  use 
for  me  to  try  to  save  anything  in  this 
house.  Everything  here  is  going  to 
rack  and  ruin.  Dilsey  has  just  broke 
another  plate.  Who 's  that  ? " 

1 1 A  new  girl  papa  has  just  bought, " 
replied  Miss  Holmes. 

"A  new  girl  pa  has  just  bought," 
ejaculated  the  old  lady,  looking  La 
Guerita  keenly  in  the  face,  flushing 
to  the  borders  of  her  cap  and  throw- 
ing up  her  hands. 

' '  What's  the  matter,  aunt  ?"  cried 
Minna,  who  had  re-entered  the  room ; 
' '  do  you  think  that  she  is  too  pretty 
to  teach  us?" 

' '  There's  nothing  the  matter, "  she 
answered  shortly,  "and  it  don't  make 
any  difference  what  I  think;  but  I 
know  there's  a  nail  sticking  up  in 
that  carpet ;  it  caught  my  gown  and 
pulled  me  back.  But  that's  the  way 
with  everything  in  this  house ;  we 
should  all  die  in  the  poor-house  if 


there  was  one  in  the  county.  Peg- 
gy's baby 's  got  the  measles  ;  that  '11 
die  next,  I  suppose  !  " 

They  all  laughed  as  she  left  the 
room,  Miss  Holmes  saying  :  ' '  In- 
deed, papa,  the  child  is  merely  suf- 
fering from  the  heat ;  I  saw  it  an 
hour  ago.  Aunt  Matilda  is  always 
imagining  something  dreadful." 

"  Hush  \m  here  she  is  again,"  said 
Mr.  Holmes,  warningly,  as  a  scuffle 
was  heard  in  the  hall,  followed  by  a 
prolonged  howl,  and  the  words  : 

"Let  me  go  !  O  Miss  'Tildy,  just 
let  ago  my  ear.  Oh,  Oh,  Miss 
'Tildy  !  O,  Lud  !  " 

1 '  I'm  just  agoing  to  take  you  right 
in  to  your  master, "  was  the  reply ; 
' '  a  pretty  thing,  I  reckon,  for  you  to 
be  a  sweepin'  the  yard  with  the  new 
broom  already." 

Mr.  Holmes  stepped  to  the  door  and 
released  the  young  culprit,  a  bright- 
looking  negro  boy,  who,  grimacing 
fearfully  in  an  attempt  to  awaken  his 
master's  pity,  protested  his  innocence. 

' '  Well,  Sam,  what  have  you  been 
doing  now  ?"  asked  Mr.  Holmes. 

"I  ha'nt  been  doin'  nothin'," 
whimpered  the  boy. 

' '  That 's  what  he 's  always  doing, " 
snapped  Miss  Matilda. 

"I  mean,  Mass'r,  I  warn't  adoin' 
nothin'  wrong  ;  I  was  just  a  sweepin' 
the  steps  of  old  Aunt  Libby's  cabin 
with  a  new  broom  what  Miss  Addie 
gub  me  to  do  it  wid. " 

"Why,  Adela,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Holmes,  turning  to  his  daughter, 
"is  it  possible  that  you  are  going  to 
put  any  one  in  that  miserable  place  ? 
Why  there  is  not  a  hand  on  the  plan- 
tation that  will  pass  it  after  dark. " 
'  "It  is  the  only  vacant  cabin,  and 
Rita  must  occupy  it,"  she  repiied, 


In  Bonds. 


adding,  as  an  expression  of  annoyance 
passed  over  her  father's  face  :  ' '  Mam- 
ma  was  quite  horrified  at  the  idea  of 
a  servant  occupying  the  governess' 
room  ;  were  you  not,  mamma  ?  " 

' '  Indeed,  yes,  my  love, "  responded 
that  lady,  with  some  degree  of  ani- 
mation; "I  couldn't  endure  the 
thought  of  it. " 

"A  servant  sleeps  in  your  own 
room,"  said  Mr.  Holmes,  angrily, 
and  in  Adela's,  too,  I  believe. " 

"No,  not  in  Adela's,"  returned 
Mrs.  Holmes  ;  ' '  Adela  says  she 
can't  help  feeling  herself  watched 
when  one  is  in  the  room.  Such  non- 
sense! I  am  sure  I  couldn't  do 
without  one.  Suppose  I  should  need 
more  covering  or  a  drink  in  the 
night,  or  should  be  taken  sick,  you 
know.  But  that  is  a  very  different 
thing  to  having  a  servant  in  a  distant 
part  of  the  house,  where  she  could  be 
of  no  use  to  any  one.  I  should 
never  close  my  eyes  in  sleep,  Norton, 
if  I  knew  Rita  was  so  close  to  me. 
Those  octoroons  are  dangerous,  you 
know.  It  was  only  last  week  that  one 
attempted  to  poison  a  whole  family 
in  Lexington." 

Mr.  Holmes  paced  the  room  ex- 
citedly, biting  his  finger  nails  and 
glancing  at  La  Guerita,  who,  with 
Harold  upon  her  knee,  was  a  silent 
listener  to  the  conversation. 

' '  I  suppose  you  must  do  as  you 
please,  Adela, "  he  said  at  length  ; 
but  I  hope  you  have  had  the  cabin 
made  comfortable." 

"Quite  so,  papa,  and,  if  you 
please,  I  will  take  Rita  there  ;  she 
looks  tired. " 

' '  I  hope  she  is  not  delicate, "  said 
Mrs.  Holmes,  querulously;  "Miss 
Fitzgerald  was  delicate,  you  know, 


and  the  children  could  not  be  in 
school  half  of  the  time.  It  is  such 
a  relief  to  me  to  think  that  this  gov- 
erness can 't  leave  us  at  a  moment's 
notice.  What  a  world  of  anxiety 
I  should  have  been  saved  if  you 
could  have  bought  her  before,  though 
she  does  seem  stupid — lost,  in  fact. 
Was  that  the  reason  your  mistress  sold 
you  ? " 

Before  La  Guerita  could  answer 
this  perplexing  question,  Miss  Holmes 
arose,  and  leaving  the  room,  mo- 
tioned to  her  to  follow.  She  did  so, 
passing  Mrs.  Holmes  with  a  graceful 
inclination  of  the  head,  causing  that 
lady  to  wonder  "  what  would  come 
next,"  and  to  prophesy  that  the 
world  would  soon  come  to  an  end. 

Miss  Matilda  was  standing  on  the 
piazza  apostrophizing  the  wind  for 
conveying  the  rose-leaves  to  that  par- 
ticular spot.  She  looked  up  as  La 
Guerita  passed  her,  and  said  senten- 
tiously  :  ' '  Chickens  come  home  to 
roost." 

"And  curses,"  thought  La  Gue- 
rita bitterly,  knowing  well  that  the 
keen-witted  old  lady  had  seen  through 
the  flimsy  disguise  which  Norton 
Ht>lmes  had  thrown  over  her  iden- 
tity, and  with  many  conflicting  emo- 
tions, she  followed  Miss  Holmes 
across  a  lawn  which  lay  at  the  back 
of  the  house,  past  a  row  of  negro 
cabins  from  which  she  was  watched 
by  scores  of  eager  eyes,  until  they 
stood  before  a  hut  somewhat  detach- 
ed from  the  others,  but  in  no  way 
differing  in  appearance.  It  was 
painted  white,  with  green  doors,  with 
a  blind  of  the  same  hue  at  the  only 
window.  A  small  garden  surround- 
ed it,  which  was  tfren  filled  with 
weeds  and  the  yellow  stalks  of  last 


In  Bonds. 


year's  cabbages — the  solitary  remains 
of  by-gone  culture. 

Miss  Holmes  took  a  bunch  of 
keys  from  a  small  basket  which  she 
carried  in  her  hand,  and  after  trying 
several  in  the  rusty  lock — turned  the 
key,  and  led  the  way  into  the  cabin. 

"I  hope  you  like  your  future 
home,"  she  remarked  sarcastically, 
and  with  a  mocking  light  in  her 
eyes,  as  La  Guerita  looked  around 
the  single  apartment.  ' '  There  is  a 
very  good  bed  in  the  corner — we  al- 
ways allow  our  servants  two  pairs  of 
blankets  in  the  winter.  Aunt  Libby 
made  that  coverlet  herself,  and  slept 
under  it  for  twenty  years,  so  I  am 
sure  it  must  be  comfortable.  That's 
a  very  good  table  in  the  corner 
though  a  little  ricketty  ;  there  are  two 
chairs,  and  if  you  want  another  you 
can  have  it,  and  also  a  piece  of  rag 
carpet  to  patch  that  hole  with.  I 
shall  expect  to  see  it  done  to-morrow. 
You  are  looking  at  the  chimney  ;  it 
does'nt  smoke  at  all,  and  you  see 
there  are  a  good  lot  of  cooking  uten- 
sils in  the  hearth." 

La  Guerita  knew  why  Adela 
Holmes  had  been  likened  to  her 
cousin  Claude  as  she  listened  to  this 
cutting  irony,  but  it  did  not  anger 
her,  she  was  too  weary  to  become 
excited,  and  she  answered  patient- 
ly :  ' '  It  is  all  good  enough,  Miss 
Holmes." 

"  'Taint  half  good  enough  !"  ejacu- 
lated Minna,  who  at  that  instant  ap- 
peared at  the  door,  accompanied  by 
her  twin  brothers,  who  were  five  years 
her  seniors.  'Taint  half  so  good, 
Miss  Rita,  as  Celia  has  ;  she's  got 
white  curtains  to  the  window,  has  'nt 
she  Alf.  ?  Ain't  the  new  teacher 
pretty  ?" 


"She  is  that,"  acceded  her  bro- 
ther warmly,  "but  she  ain't  Miss 
Rita — she  ain't  white  you  know." 

"  And  I  ain't  going  to  mind  her  a 
bit, "  said  his  brother,  ' '  I  ain't  going 
to  learn  lessons  for  her. " 

' '  If  you  don't,  I'll  break  every 
bone  in  your  body,"  said  Alf.  threat- 
eningly, ' '  I  like  her  a  heap  better 
than  I  did  Miss  Fitzgerald  already." 

La  Guerita  thanked  her  champion 
with  an  eloquent  glance  of  grati- 
tude, and  Alfred  walked  triumph- 
antly away,  followed  by  Rufus  and 
Minna. 

When  they  were  again  alone,  Miss 
Holmes  turned  to  La  Guerita,  saying 
sternly  :  "  Do  you  realize  the  posi- 
tion in  which  you  have  placed  your- 
self? Do  you  realize  what  you  are?" 

1 '  I  am  a  slave, "  she  answered  bit- 
terly, stung  with  the  shame  that  had 
haunted  her  since  her  entrance  into 
Holmsford. 

' '  Yes,  a  slave, "  repeated  Miss 
Holmes  with  emphasis;  "a  slave 
not  only  in  name  but  in  reality. " 

1 '  I  came  here  to  be  a  slave  in 
reality, "  she  returned  ;  "I  came  here 
to  forget  that  I  ever  was  free. " 

"My  father  has  told  me  your 
tale,"  said  Miss  Holmes  scornfully, 
"  a  tale  in  which  you  would  mention 
no  names.  I  place  as  much  faith  in 
it  as  I  would  in  an  anonymous  letter. 
I  know  not  what  your  object  was  in 
coming  here,  but  I  believe  it  was  to 
escape  the  consequences  of  some 
evil  deed,  or  to  perform  one.  But  I 
warn  you  that  Adela  Holmes  is  not 
blind." 

She  opened  the  door  and  passed 
out,  leaving  La  Guerita  and  her  child 
alone  in  the  little  cabin  which  was 
thenceforth  to  be  their  home. 


In  Bonds. 


' '  Have  I  done  so  strange  a  thing, " 
mused  La  Guerita,  "in  seeking  to 
make  reparation  to  another,  and  to 
find  peace  for  my  own  soul,  that 
even  the  wisest  deem  me  mad,  or 
hopelessly  depraved  ?  O  Harold, 
Harold,  my  dead  love,  you  at  least 
know  my  motives  !  O  Harold,  Har- 
old !" 

She  sank  upon  a  chair  clasping 
her  brow  with  her  open  hand,  and 
crying  aloud  that  she  was  ' '  wretched, 
wretched,  still ! '" 

"I  am  very  hungry,  mamma," 
said  Harold  at  length;  "Why  did 
they  put  us  into  this  little  dark  house. 
It  isn't  pretty  at  all. " 

"But  still  we  are  to  live  here, 
Harry,"  said  his  mother  calmly, 
' '  and  you  will  learn  to  be  very  hap- 
py here.  Are  you  very  hungry, 
darling  ?  Here  is  a  biscuit  I  put  in 
my  pocket  for  you  to-day. " 

He  took  it  gladly,  but  before  it 
was  half  eaten  a  young  mulatto  girl 
came  to  the  door,  and  looking  in, 
said  :  "  Here  is  some  supper  Miss 
Addie  sent  you  for  Harry,  and  you'se 
to  put  him  to  bed  just  as  soon  as  he's 
eat  it,  for  Miss  Addie  says  else  he'll 
be  tuckered  clean  out  with  a  travelin 
so  far,  and  Miss  Addie  she  can't  abide 
a  sick  nigger. " 

La  Guerita  felt  stunned  ;  she  look- 
ed on  helplessly  as  the  girl  placed  the 
tray  on  the  table  and  then  sat  down, 
familiarly  continuing  :  ' '  How  awful 
white  you  is  !  Nigh  as  white  's  Miss 
Addie  herself.  Was  your  missus 
jealous  o'  yo,  or  what  did  she  sell 
you  for." 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  La 
Guerita,  feeling  the  necessity  of  say- 
ing something  to  her  fellow-servant, 
remembering  with  a  sharp  sting  of 


wounded  pride,  that  her  caste  was  the 
same  as  that  of  the  untutored  girl. 

"And  after  she  had  been  and  had 
you  eddicated  so  ;  she  must  a  been 
jealous, "  concluded  the  girl.  ' €  Well, 
I  can't  stop  here  a  chattin',  though 
I'd  like  to  -  mighty.  There's  Miss 
Tildy  a  screamin'  to  me  to  take  the 
parrot  in  doors.  I  should'nt  a  bit 
wonder  if  he's  a  bit  her  finger  agin. 
O,  heddy,  how  riled  she  would  be  !" 

And  she  left  the  cabin  hastily,  hap- 
py in  the  scene  her  imagination  had 
conjured. 

La  Guerita  was  wear)' — very  weary 
— and  was  glad  to  partake  of  a  part 
of  the  supper  which  Miss  Holmes 
had  sent.  She  laid  aside  her  bonnet 
and  cloak,  and  unpinned  the  heavy 
braids  of  hair,  that  lay  like  leaden 
weights  upon  her  burning  head. 

' '  How  queer  you  look,  mamma, " 
laughed  Harold ;  "just  like  that  pic- 
ture we  had  at  home ;  don't  you 
know:  a  mer — mer — what  is  it? — 
coming  out  of  the  sea  ;  her  hair  was 
just  as  long  and  wavy  as  yours.  I 
say,  ain't  this  nice  jelly  ?  I  like  that 
lady — Miss  Adela — ever  so  much, 
mamma,  though  she  frightened  me 
when  she  caught  hold  of  me  so  tight. 
I  thought  that  black  man  had  come 
again  to  carry  me  away.  But  now  I 
like  her  ever  so  much ;  but  was  n't 
that  other  a  funny  old  woman  ? "  and 
he  pulled  his  hair  over  his  brow  and 
shook  his  head,  in  grotesque  imita- 
tion of  Miss  Matilda  and  her  quiver- 
ing laces. 

So  he  prattled  on,  until  his  mother 
undressed  him  and  laid  him  on  the 
bed,  standing  by  him  until  he  had 
fallen  asleep  and  the  dusk  of  evening 
gathered  around  her. 

It  was  insufferably  warm,  although 


86 


In  Bonds. 


the  window  was  open,  and  La  Gue- 
rita  threw  open  the  back  door,  that 
the  night  breeze  might  enter  her  little 
dwelling.  She  sat  upon  the  step — a 
decaying  log — and  gazed  upon  the 
scene  that  lay  before  her.  Near  at 
hand  was  a  field  of  cotton,  but  sparse- 
ly grown,  and  beyond  it  a  forest  of 
dark  pines,  that  swayed  solemnly  in 
the  evening  wind,  filling  the  air  with 
a  low,  rushing  sound  as  of  running 
waters.  It  soothed  the  excited  mind 
of  the  listener  as  no  other  music 
could  have  done,  seeming  to  whis- 
per of  wildernesses  of  shade  and  si- 
lence— boundless,  fathomless — where 
the  echoes  of  the  busy  world  could 
never  enter. 

Two  negroes  slowly  crossed  the 
cotton  field,  carrying  their  tools  upon 
their  shoulders,  and  cheerily  singing 
a  camp-meeting  hymn,  to  a  weird, 
monotonous  tune. 

As  she  listened  the  rhythm  of  the 
song  seemed  to  harmonize  with  the 
wild  imaginings  of  her  brain,  and  to 
calm  them.  Of  thoughts — thoughts 
that  resolved  themselves  into  definite 
forms — she  had  none,  and  the  past 
and  present  became  a  void  to  her ;  her 
mind  lost  its  weight  of  agony,  and 
for  hours  after  the  hymn  had  ceased, 
and  when  the  belt  of  pines  were  but 
as  the  farthest  ether,  she  sat  there, 
like  one  entranced.  At  last  she  was 
aroused — but  only  to  bodily  pain — by 
a  sensation  of  cold,  which  pervaded 
her  entire  frame.  She  went  into  the 
cabin  then,  and  without  closing  the 
door,  or  even  remarking  that  it  was 
open,  threw  herself  upon  the  bed  be- 
side her  child,  and  fell  into  a  deep, 
untroubled  sleep. 

"  O  heart,  sore  tried,  thou  hadst  the  best 

That  Heaven  itself  could  give  thee — rest — 
Rest  from  all  bitter  thoughts  and  things!" 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  Undue  suspicion  is  more  abject  baseness 
Even  than  the  guilt  suspected." 

Aaron  Hill. 

Miss  HOLMES  makes  a  discovery. 
The  partial  stupor  that  fell  upon  the 
mind  of  La  Guerita  DeCuba  upon 
that  calm  summer  night  happily  did 
not  pass  with  the  stupor  it  induced  ; 
she  awoke  on  the  following  morning 
with  a  passive  brain  and  a  deadened 
memory.  The  remembrance  of  the 
past  was  with  her  still,  but  its  terrible 
anguish  was  gone,  and  in  its  stead 
remained  a  dull,  subtle  pain — a 
wound  so  deep  and  tender  that  a 
word  or  look  would  often  cause  the 
most  exquisite  torture — torture  that 
would  blind  and  stifle,  but  never 
rouse  her. 

The  young  mulatto  girl,  who  had 
brought  the  supper  on  the  previous 
evening,  appeared  at  about  eight 
in  the  morning,  with  a  well-filled 
tray,  which  she  placed  on  the  rickety 
table. 

' '  Miss  Addie  wanted  to  send  your 
breakfast  an  hour  ago,"  she  said, 
"fur  eberybody  gets  breakfus'  migh- 
ty early  heah,  but  Mass  Norton  he 
jiss  would  n't  let  her  do  it.  Fust  ob 
all,  she  said  you  could  cook  your 
own  victuals,  like  de  res'  of  de  nig- 
gas,  and  I  neber  see  Mass  Norton 
look  so  mad  in  my  bressed  days, 
and  he  jess  spoke  right  up,  and  ses 
he  :  '  You  will  send  her  from  dis 
table  de  bes'  of  ebery  ting  ebery  day, 
Adela.'  Well,  Miss  Addie  neber 
said  a  word  more,  but,  Lor',  she  did 
look  blacker  nor  ole  Aunt  Fanny 
does  dis  bressed  minit. " 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  La 
Guerita. 


In  Bonds. 


' '  Roxanna  Deliny  ;  they  call  me 
Roxy,  for  short.  I  tends  upon  Miss 
'Tildy,  and  does  all  kind  o'  odd 
chores.  I'se  to  bring  you  your  meals 
ebery  day ;  but,  Lor',  I  don't  mind 
if  you  is  n't  white.  De  rest  of  'em 
don't  like  you,  though. " 

"Why  not?"  said  La  Guerita,  in- 
differently. 

' '  'Cos  Massa  Norton  's  been  an' 
sot  you  up  'bove  the  res',  jes'  'cos 
you's  white,  and  the  real  blackies 
can 't  abide  de  white  ones  no  way  ; 
and  now  dey  tinks  dat  Massa 's  jiss 
brought  you  here  to  sit  and  watch 
'em. " 

La  Guerita  smiled  faintly.  ' '  They 
need  not  fear  that, "  she  said  ;  "  I  am 
one  of  them  ;  I  am  in  bonds  as  well 
as  they. " 

Roxy  looked  as  if  she  scarcely 
knew  what  was  meant,  and  discreet- 
ly changed  the  subject  by  saying : 
' '  Miss  Addie  told  me  I  was  to  take 
you  ober  to  de  school-house  soon  as 
you'd  finished  breakfus'  and  wus 
fixed  up.  How  quar  you  've  made 
dat  bed  ;  looks  like  you  'd  neber 
teched  one  afore.  Miss  'Tildy  she 
goes  inter  de  cabins  ebery  day,  to  see 
ef  dey 's  fixed  up ;  she  'd  be  arter 
you  ef  she  seed  dat  lookin'  heap. " 

Roxy  re-arranged  the  bed  to  her 
satisfaction,  and  then  conducted  La 
Guerita  to  a  small  building  that  stood 
about  a  hundred  yards  back  of  the 
principal  dwelling. 

"Dis  is  de  school-house,"  she 
said,  and  left  La  Guerita  standing 
upon  the  low,  broad  step,  looking 
listlessly  at  the  white  walls  and  the 
long  windows,  with  their  bright- 
green  shutters.  For  a  moment  she 
forgot  where  she  was  and  what  was 
expected  of  her  ;  then  Harold  pulled 


her  dress,  and  whispered  :  ' '  Look, 
mamma,  look,  there's  the  pretty 
lady." 

She  entered  the  school-house  then, 
and  bent  her  head  meekly  to  Miss 
Holmes,  who  was  speaking  to  the 
children.  She  stopped  when  she  saw 
La  Guerita,  but  Alfred  said,  quickly : 
' '  You  need  n't  tell  me  how  to  behave 
myself,  Addie  ;  I  like  her  first-rate. " 

"Besides,"  said  Rufus,  proudly, 
' '  Cousin  Claude  said,  when  he  was 
here,  that  if  I  wished  to  be  a  gentle- 
man like  him,  I  must  begin  by  treat- 
ing my  inferiors  well. " 
.  His  sister's  lips  curled  slightly,  but 
she  answered  :  ' '  That  is  an  excel- 
lent precept;  I  hope  you  will  re- 
member it;"  then  turning  to  La 
Guerita,  added  :  ' '  You  are  late  this 
morning.  I  shall  expect  you  always 
to  begin  school  at  eight  o'clock,  and 
continue  until  three.  You  may  give 
a  few  minutes'  recess  at  ten,  and  an 
hour's  at  twelve.  From  four  until 
five  you  will  give  Minna  a  music  les- 
son, or  hear  her  practice. " 

"  1 7m  not  going  to  stay  in  school 
from  eight  'till  three,"  exclaimed 
Rufus. 

1 '  Yes  you  will  !  "  cried  Alfred  ; 
' '  you  used  to  do  it  when  Miss  Fitz- 
gerald was  here.  It 's  an  awful  long 
time,  but  we  did  it  easy  enough  after 
she  made  us  a  few  times. " 

At  that  moment  Mr.  Holmes  ap- 
peared. ' '  I  am  glad  to  see  you 
here,  Rita,"  he  said,  kindly.  "How 
do  you  like  the  school-room  ?  Pleas- 
ant, is  it  not?  Now,  I  am  ready  to 
see  you  begin  school  ;  you  '11  read  a 
chapter  in  the  Bible  first,  eh  ?" 

La  Guerita  mechanically  turned  to 
the  bible  that  lay  upon  her  desk,  and 
opened  it  at  the  thirty-fifth  Psalm,  be- 


88 


In   Bonds. 


ginning  :  ' '  Plead  my  cause,  O  Lord, 
with  them  that  strive  with  me  ;  fight 
against  them  that  fight  against  me. 
Take  hold  of  shield  and  buckler, 
and  stand  up  for  mine  help." 

Miss  Holmes  looked  upon  her 
steadily  as  she  read  this  Psalm  from 
beginning  to  end.  Even  the  children 
listened  with  delight  to  the  calm,  so- 
norous tones.  La  Guerita  alone  re- 
mained unaffected  by  that  solemn 
prayer,  which  eloquently  appeared  to 
plead  for  her  from  the  depths  into 
which  she  had  fallen.  She  was  un- 
conscious of  their  significance ;  but 
not  so  at  least  two  of  her  hearers,  for 
as  she  closed  the  book  and  looked  to 
Mr.  Holmes  for  further  orders,  he 
merely  said  :  ' '  Read  from  the  New 
Testament  in  future,"  and  followed 
his  daughter  from  the  house,  turning 
at  the  door  to  say  :  "  Remember, 
Rita,  you  are  mistress  here.  Boys — 
Minna,  let  me  hear  of  no  miscon- 
duct." 

The  children  looked  at  each  other 
and  then  at  La  Guerita,  who,  with 
Harold  at  her  side,  stood  calmly  be- 
fore them. 

' '  Alfred, "  she  said  at  last,  ' '  bring 
me  your  books  and  let  me  see  how 
far  you  are  advanced. " 

He  obeyed,  treating  her  respect- 
fully, and  listening  intently  to  all  she 
said,  thereby  making  it  easier  to 
force  words  from  her  unwilling  lips. 
Rufus,  in  his  turn,  went  to  her  desk 
frowning  malevolently,  and  mutter- 
ing, as  he  returned  to  his  seat :  "I 
shan't  mind  her ;  I  '11  just  do  as  I 
please,  for  all  that  I  care  for  her. " 

La  Guerita's  eyes  flashed,  but  she 
said  nothing,  choosing  to  bide  the 
time  when  she  might  effectually 
prove  her  authority. 


Oh,  how  drearily  that  long,  long 
day  passed  by.  Harold  ran  out  to 
play  in  the  shade,  while  she,  who  had 
never  known  toil  before,  learned,  in 
part,  what  slavery  meant,  as  she  lis- 
tened to  Minna's  monotonous  tones, 
as  she  read  her  dog's-eared  primer, 
or  enduring  patiently  Alfred's  stupid- 
ity, or  Rufus'  outbursts  of  sullen 
temper. 

It  was  very  warm.  La  Guerita 
felt  faint  and  weary,  and  would  glad- 
ly have  dismissed  the  children  to 
their  play,  but  she  remembered  that 
she  was  a  slave ;  and  when  at  last 
the  weary  toil  was  over,  and  the  chil- 
dren had  burst  with  wild  shouts  from 
the  room,  she  sank  down  in  the  apa- 
thetic way  that  now  seemed  almost 
natural  to  her,  and  vaguely  wondered 
what  next  would  come  for  her  to  do. 

The  school-room  was  littered  with 
books  and  papers,  but  it  did  not  oc- 
cur to  her  to  make  it  tidy.  No 
thought  entered  her  mind  without 
some  prompting  from  another  ;  and 
so  she  sat,  only  conscious  of  extreme 
bodily  weakness,  gazing  dreamily 
upon  the  scene  without  until  Roxy 
entered  uttering  an  exclamation  of 
surprise  at  seeing  her  sitting  idle 
with  the  litter  around  her,  and  then 
energetically  placing  the  scattered 
articles  in  their  places  as  she  said  : 

1 '  Law  sus,  Rita,  this  '11  never  do  ; 
'spose  Miss  'Tildy  should  come  in ; 
she'll  be  awful  mad  ef  you  don't  clar 
up  sooner  den  this  every  arternoon  ; 
and  Miss  Addie,  she  '11  soon  tell  you 
that  yer  can't  fold  yer  hands  in  dis 
cabin  ;  she  sent  me  to  tell  ye  to  go 
inter  the  house,  Miss  Myra  wants 
you." 

La  Guerita  arose  and  slowly  cross- 
ed the  grass-plot  that  lay  between  the 


In  Bonds. 


school-room  and  the  back  porch  of 
the  house.     As  she  passed  the  parlor 
windows  she  heard  a  strange  voice, 
saying  : 

"I  am  quite  anxious  to  behold 
this  prodigy  of  yours,  Mrs.  Holmes." 

La  Guerita  shrank  back,  with  a 
momentary  impulse  to  retreat.  ' '  No, 
this  is  a  part  of  my  sacrifice, "  she 
muttered,  ' '  and  must  be  perform- 
ed," and  approaching  the  parlor 
door,  knocked  resolutely. 

' '  Come  in  ! "  said  a  voice ;  and 
obeying  the  summons,  La  Guerita 
found  herself  in  the  presence  of  Mrs. 
and  Miss  Holmes,  and  a  strange 
gentleman. 

He  looked  at  her  curiously  as  she 
entered,  and  bowed,  coloring  there- 
after as  if  he  had  been  surprised  into 
the  condescension.  La  Guerita  stood 
in  the  door- way,  with  eyes  bent  down, 
painfully  conscious  that  the  eyes  of 
the  stranger  never  left  her. 

Suddenly  he  muttered  an  excuse 
and  left  the  room.  Mrs.  Holmes 
laughed,  while  Adela  looked  sur- 
prised, and  not  the  less  so  when,  en- 
tering the  room  as  suddenly  as  he 
had  left  it,  Mr.  Russell  declared  he 
had  been  unable  to  withstand  the 
temptation  to  rush  into  the  garden 
and  pluck  a  magnificent  moss-rose, 
which  he  offered  her,  with  a  gay  ex- 
cuse for  his  impetuosity. 

Miss  Holmes  took  it  and  placed  it 
in  a  vase  on  the  table,  and  which  she 
directed  La  Guerita  to  fill  with  water. 

She  obeyed,  glad  to  escape  the 
searching  eyes  of  the  stranger,  but, 
although  she  did  not  look  at  him, 
she  knew  he  was  still  regarding  her 
when  she  returned  with  the  flowers, 
and  as  a  chance  for  evading  his  scru- 
tiny turned  to  the  piano,  as  Mrs. 
12 


Holmes  said  :  ' '  Mr.  Russell  wishes 
to  hear  you  play,  Rita.  Play  the 
piece  we  all  admired  so  much  yes- 
terday. " 

That  was  impossible,  but  the  noc- 
turne she  selected  was  equally  beau- 
tiful. 

At  the  conclusion,  Mrs.  Holmes 
looked  at  Mr.  Russell  triumphantly. 

1 '  She  does,  indeed,  play  very  fine- 
ly, "  he  said  ;  ' '  her  mistress  must 
have  spent  a  small  fortune  upon 
that  one  accomplishment.  Has  Mr. 
Holmes  found  a  gold  mine,  or  ob- 
tained the  freedom  of  a  mint  lately?" 

Mrs.  Holmes  laughed.  ' '  Neither 
the  one  nor  the  other,  I  can  assure 
you, "  she  returned.  ' '  I  asked  Nor- 
ton something  of  the  sort  yesterday 
when  Rita  came,  but  he  said  she 
cost  a  mere  nothing.  Play  some- 
thing else,  Rita." 

She  turned  to  the  instrument  most 
sorely  puzzled.  Where  had  she  seen 
this  Mr.  Russell  before  ?  Was  it  fan- 
cy, or  was  there  really  something  fa- 
miliar in  his  voice  and  appearance  ? 
He  was  tall,  fair,  decidedly  good- 
looking,  but  with  a  good-natured 
and  in  no  way  remarkable  counte- 
nance ;  yet  it  haunted  her,  leading 
ing  her  back  step  by  step  over  her 
life,  yet  taking  no  fixed  place  in  it, 
seeming  rather  as  a  shadow  than  a 
reality.  She  was  aroused  by  an  ex- 
clamation from  Mrs.  Holmes. 

"  Play  something  less  monoto- 
nous, "  she  cried.  ' '  How  dreadful- 
ly stupid  that  is ;  one  might  imagine 
Minna  was  playing.  You  don't  mean 
to  tell  me  you  can  only  play  one  or 
two  pieces  well  ?  " 

Mr.  Russell  arose  and  walked  care- 
lessly to  the  end  of  the  piano,  look- 
ing at  her  curiously  as  he  said  : 


9° 


In   Bonds. 


"Give  us  something  lighter  —  a 
polka,  for  instance  ;  I  remember 
there  was  a  very  pretty  one  called 
1  La  Guerita, '  that  they  used  to  play 
when  I  was  at  school  at  Fairview. " 

She  turned  deadly  pale  at  the  sound 
of  the  well-loved  name,  struck  to  the 
heart  more  by  that  simple  word  than 
the  knowledge  that  she  was  recog- 
nized. 

She  remembered  him  well  then. 
Years  ago  he  had  been  at  Fairview 
for  a  term — for  only  a  single  term  ; 
yet,  after  all  the  changes  that  had 
passed  over  both,  he  had  known  her 
at  a  glance. 

Obeying  the  impulse  of  flight,  she 
arose  and  hurried  from  the  room, 
casting  behind  a  frightened  look,  like 
that  of  a  hunted  fawn.  Mrs.  Holmes 
in  vain  called  her  back,  and  then  fol- 
lowed her,  in  high  displeasure,  which, 
fortunately  for  La  Guerita,  was  chang- 
ed to  loud  lamentations  as  she  beheld 
Alfred  entering  the  house,  holding  in 
one  hand  a  nest  of  young  mocking- 
birds, while  he  wiped  upon  the  bo- 
som of  his  shirt  the  blood  that  was 
freely  trickling  from  the  other. 

"Oh,  my  dear,  dear  child,"  cried 
his  mother,  "what  have  you  been 
doing?  Are  you  killed?  You  are 
scratches  all  over  !  " 

' '  I  can  get  lots  more  near  the  same 
place  that  I  got  these  !  "  he  cried, 
gleefully,  referring  to  the  birds,  not 
the  scratches.  ' '  I  am  going  to  take 
these  to  Miss  Rita  and  get  her  to 
raise  them  for  me  ;  you  know  Dilsey 
let  all  those  die  that  I  got  last  spring. " 

' '  Miss  Rita  ! "  echoed  Mr.  Rus- 
sell, in  a  tone  of  amusement  and 
slight  disdain,  and  then  he  rose  to  say 
farewell. 

"Will  you  not  wait  until  my  moth- 


er comes  in  ? "  said  Miss  Holmes, 
hesitatingly,  for  it  was  an  unusual 
thing  for  her  to  urge  Mr.  William 
Russell  to  remain  at  Holmsford  on 
any  pretext,  and  she  colored  to  see 
that  he  availed  himself  of  her  invi- 
tation, as  if  it  were  an  inestimable 
boon  ;  and  scorning  to  engage  in 
even  the  most  harmless  deception, 
she  quickly  added  :  ' '  You  have  seen 
our  new  servant  before  ?  " 

The  young  man  sighed,  but  an- 
swered courteously :  "I  have,  in- 
deed, Miss  Adela. " 

' '  And  under  far  different  circum- 
stances, I  presume, "  she  continued, 
cautiously. 

Mr.  Russell  placed  himself  on  his 
guard,  and  scarcely  knowing  what 
to  say,  muttered  :  ' '  Certainly  ;  but, 
doubtless,  you  know  all  the  past  his- 
tory of — of— 

Miss  Holmes  waited  anxiously  for 
the  name,  but  Mr.  Russell  bit  his 
lips  and  remained  silent. 

"  I  will  buy  his  speech,"  thought 
Miss  Holmes,  the  color  rushing  over 
her  face  as  she  said  :  "At  least,  if  you 
will  tell  me  nothing,  you  will  let  me 
know  whether  the  tale  I  have  already 
heard  is  true  ?  Of  course,  my  father 
did  not  attempt  to  deceive  me  with 
the  tale  that  has  satisfied  my  mother. 
He  repeated  to  me  the  tale  he  heard 
from  her  lips.  She  was  born  a  slave 
— I  know  not  where  or  who  was  her 
master — she  was  given  her  freedom, 
and  sent  North,  and  there  educated  ; 
after  deceiving  one  lover  she  married 
a  second,  and  a  few  months  ago  the 
husband  learned  through  the  rejected 
lover  the  secret  of  his  wife's  birth, 
and  went  mad  over  it,  I  believe,  and 
died.  After  all  this  trouble  she  be- 
came disgusted  with  her  freedom, 


In  Bonds. 


91 


and,  in  order,  she  says,  to  make 
atonement  for  the  sorrow  she  has 
wrought,  has  returned  to  her  original 
state  of  slavery,  choosing,  for  some 
unexplained  cause,  my  father  as  her 
master. " 

' '  Poor  soul ! "  said  Mr.  Russell, 
thoughtfully. 

' '  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  her 
conduct?"  asked  Miss  Holmes,  tri- 
umphantly. 

' '  I  think  it  worthy  of  a  mad  wo- 
man ! " 

Miss  Holmes  shrugged  her  shoul- 
ders. "And  what  of  her  story — is 
any  of  it  true  ?  " 

' '  Yes,  yes — in  part,  at  least ;  I 
know  it  to  be  true  in  part,  for  I  was 
acquainted  with  her  before  she  mar- 
ried." 

"At  what  place?  " 

I  cannot  tell  you  without  her  per- 
mission, Miss  Adela.  Whatever  may 
be  her  motive  for  coming  here,  I,  as 
a  gentleman,  must  respect  her  se- 
cret. " 

Miss  Holmes  colored  at  the  im- 
plied reproof,  but  said,  with  a  smile  : 
' '  I  have  given  you  my  confidence, 
Mr.  Russell "  —  adding,  in  an  ag- 
•  grieved  tone — "after  that,  I  think  it 
but  just  you  should  honor  me  with 
yours. " 

The  young  man  colored  with  pleas- 
ure, and  a  multitude  of  thoughts — 
some  of  them  not  of  the  purest — 
flashed  through  his  mind,  but  he 
said,  quietly  : 

"I  tell  you,  Miss  Adela,  her  tale 
is  true  ;  though  I  scarcely  think  she 
has  betrayed  her  true  motives  for 
coming  here ;  unless,  indeed,  she  is 
mad. " 

' '  She  is  not  mad, "  returned  Miss 
Holmes,  impatiently;  "but,  Mr. 


Russell,  did  you  know  anything  of 
her  first  lover  ? " 

1 '  Yes, "  he  returned,  hastily,  as  if 
he  could  not  allow  himself  time  for 
after  thought ;  ' '  perhaps  you  will  be 
able  to  judge  more  correctly  of  her 
motives  for  coming  here  when  I  tell 
you  that  his  name  was  Claude  Lev- 
eredge. " 

' '  Claude  Leveredge  ?  Impossi- 
ble ! " 

1 '  He  met  her  before  he  went  to 
Europe,"  continued  Mr.  Russell,  as 
if  his  astonished  hearer  had  not  spo- 
ken. "They  were  engaged  during 
the  time  of  his  absence,  and  upon 
his  return  she  jilted  him,  and  mar- 
ried another." 

' '  Heartless  creature  ! "  cried  Miss 
Holmes,  her  eyes  flashing  with  in- 
dignation ;  ' '  and  Claude,  too  !  But, 
Mr.  Russell,  you  must  be  mistaken  ; 
he  would  never  have  engaged  him- 
self to  a  girl  in  such  an  equivocal  po- 
sition. " 

' '  He  did  so,  nevertheless, "  return- 
ed Mr:  Russell,  ' '  and  now  she  is  a 
widow. " 

Miss  Holmes  sprang  to  her  feet 
and  paced  the  room  rapidly.  Mr. 
Russell  saw  how  greatly  she  was  ex- 
cited and  discreetly  took  leave,  smil- 
ing to  himself  as  he  mounted  his 
horse  and  rode  slowly  away. 

Passing  the  window  in  her  rapid 
walk,  Miss  Holmes  looked  out  and 
cast  a  contemptuous  glance  after  him. 
' '  I  know  why  you  told  me  that,  Will 
Russell ! "  she  said,  flushing  angrily, 
' '  but  it  will  do  you  no  good  ;  nothing 
that  you  can  tell  me  about  Claude 
Leveredge  can  affect  me  now. " 

But  she  was  provingly  conscious 
that  his  words  had  affected  her.  She 
remembered  what  affectionate  letters, 


In  Bonds. 


in  virtue  of  their  cousinship,  had 
passed  between  Claude  Leveredge 
and  herself  during  his  European 
tour,  and  how  generally  it  was  un- 
derstood that  a  closer  relationship 
would  some  day  be  established.  The 
thought  had  flattered  her  greatly,  in 
her  early  girlhood,  and  it  was  not 
without  shame  that  she  remembered 
how  long  she  had  waited  for  the 
words  that  never  came,  and  how  long 
she  had  fretted  under  the  mysterious 
silence  he  had  kept — a  silence  which 
all  his  actions  had  rendered  eloquent 
of  love. 

"He  has  deceived  us  shamefully," 
she  muttered  angrily.  ' '  Oh,  to  think 
that  he  should  have  been  engaged  to 
that  creature  all  the  time  he  was  in 
Europe.  Well,  well,  that  passed 
long  ago,  thank  Heaven !  I  am 
glad  she  married  another  ;  it  served 
him  right.  Yet  since,  ever  since,  he 
has  doubtless  loved  her,  and  yet  he 
dared  make  every  one  believe  he  had 
set  his  heart  upon  me,  by  parting  me 
from  the  only  man  I  ever  loved  ;  yes, 
and  whom  I  will  ever  love  in  spite  of 
him." 

She  paced  the  room  with  increased 
excitement,  and  after  a  lapse  of  a  few 
moments  commenced  a  series  of 
fresh  ejaculations  expressive  of  her 
thoughts. 

"Adela  Holmes  has  never  been 
called  uncharitable, "  she  cried,  ' '  Yet 
I  cannot,  I  cannot,  see  anything  right 
or  pure  in  this  mystery  from  begin- 
ning to  end.  That  girl  married, 
doubtless,  from  spite ;  my  cousin, 
perhaps,  irritated  her  beyond  endur- 
ance. She  was  beautiful,  young, 
weak,  and  yes — wicked — would  she 
have  married  so  if  she  had  not  been  ? 
Claude  has  haunted  her,  has  pro- 


duced a  fatal  influence  over  her — we 
quarreled  when  we  last  met ;  he  swore 
he  would  humble  my  proud  spirit, 
and  he  has  sent  her  here  as  his  tool. 
I  see  it  all  ;  she  has  come  here  to  be 
my  slave,  and  as  my  slave,  to  mock 
my  youthful  confidence,  to  bring  low 
my  womanly  pride,  to  show  me  how, 
for  all  these  years,  she  and  Claude 
Leveredge  have  flouted  and  scorned 
me.  Oh,  the  double-dyed  treach- 
ery !  " 

She  had  worked  herself  into  so 
furious  a  passion  that  even  Miss  Ma- 
tilda would  have  started  back  in  alarm 
from  the  usually  quiet  Adela. 

Her  wrath,  with  true  womanish 
instinct,  turned  from  her  cousin  to 
the  offender  of  her  own  sex.  "  Oh, 
the  fiendish  creature  !  "  she  exclaim- 
ed, ' '  how  she  rejoices  in  the  thought 
of  taking  him  from  me.  A  great 
triumph  surely  when  I  have  wished 
him  won  and  out  of  the  way  a  thou- 
sand, thousand  times.  But  she  shall 
have  her  triumph  at  some  cost,  I 
promise  her.  Yes,  she  shall  suffer 
all  that  one  woman  can  devise  to  tor- 
ture another  ;  she  shall  writhe,  until 
she  writhes  free  of  her  bonds.  Not 
a  day,  not  an  hour,  not  a  moment 
shall  pass  but  that  she  shall  know 
that  she  is  a  slave. " 

Miss  Holmes  caught  the  reflection 
of  her  face  in  one  of  the  long  mir- 
rors. It  was  so  distorted,  that  she 
started  at  the  sight,  and  hastened  to 
her  room  that  no  unexpected  in- 
truder might  see  it.  When  she  reach- 
ed the  shelter  of  her  apartment,  she 
locked  the  door,  and  with  her  hand 
still  upon  it,  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears,  moaning  out  :  ' '  Oh,  my  love, 
my  love,  you  would  have  taught  me 
how  to  bear  this.  But  oh,  fool — fool 


In  Bonds. 


93 


that  I  was  to  give  the  promise  that 
prevents  me  from  even  writing  to  you 
of  it." 

Could  La  Guerita  DeCuba  have 
known  how  fierce  a  battle  was  waged 
by  love  and  duty  in  the  heart  of  Adela 
Holmes,  and  how  she  longed  to  re- 
veal her  outraged  feelings,  and  the 
cause  of  them,  to  one  doubly  sepa- 
rated by  distance  and  a  parent's  will, 
she  would  have  trembled  even  more 
despairingly  for  the  bonds  she  held 
so  precious. 

For  a  few  moments  after  she  fled 
from  the  house,  she  remained  almost 
stunned  by  her  emotions  at  the  door 
of  her  hut.  At  last  she  remembered 
that  William  Russell  had  been  held 
by  his  acquaintance  to  be  the  soul  of 
honor,  and  a  wild  hope  sprang  up  in 
her  heart  that  he  would  not,  at  least 
on  that  day,  betray  her  to  Miss 
Holmes,  and  that  she  might  throw 
herself  upon  his  mercy,  and  induce 
him  to  keep  silence  forever. 

Without  pausing  for  further  thought 
she  ran  across  the  fields  that  lay  be- 
tween her  cottage  and  the  road,  and 
standing  near  the  fence,  eagerly  look- 
ed for  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Rus- 
sell. 

Meanwhile,  having  left  Holmsford 
in  an  unusually  hopeful  frame  of 
mind,  and  quite  unconscious  of  the 
thoughts  of  Adela  Holmes  concern- 
ing him,  he  slowly  rode  along  the 
quiet  road,  lost  in  reverie,  until  a 
voice  calling  softly,  yet  eagerly  : 
"Mr.  Russell,  Mr.  Russell,"  sudden- 
ly aroused  him. 

He  recognized  the  voice  even  be- 
fore he  saw  La  Guerita,  and  draw- 
ing rein,  looked  round  and  said  : 
"  Mrs.  DeGrey  what  do  you  wish 
with  me  ?  " 


"Hush,  hush,"  she  cried  entreat- 
ingly  ;  "not  that  name;  do  not 
call  me  by  that  name  here. " 

' '  'Tis  no  wonder  that  you  shrink 
from  hearing  it, "  he  said  sternly. 

' '  Oh  do  not  use  those  cruel  tones 
to  me, "  she  entreated.  * '  Ah,  if  you 
knew  all,  you  would  pity  rather  than 
scorn  me." 

' '  I  cannot  scorn  you, "  he  replied  ; 
' '  I  cannot  look  upon  your  face  and 
do  that,  and  yet — "  He  paused,  as 
if  uncertain  what  else  to  say,  and  then 
suddenly  added  :  ' '  Good  God,  are 
you  mad  ? " 

' '  No,  no,  no, "  she  cried.  ' '  Would 
to  God  that  I  were  ;  but  I  am  not 
mad. " 

Her  passionate  voice  and  gestures 
turned  aside  all  his  contempt  and  dis- 
trust, and  bending  from  his  saddle, 
he  looked  at  her  more  gently,  and 
said : 

' '  Then,  Rita,  why  are  you  here  ? 
Why  do  I  find  you  in  this  posi- 
tion ? " 

She  told  her  story  wildly,  inco- 
herently, but  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
leave  no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  her 
hearer  that,  as  she  said,  she  had  en- 
tered into  slavery  because  freedom — 
life  itself—had  become  hateful  to 
her. 

His  heart  thrilled  with  pity  as  he 
listened,  and  when  she  entreated  him 
not  to  betray  her,  that  she  would  die 
rather  than  return  to  her  home,  and 
involve  her  brother  in  her  shame,  he 
begged  her  to  be  calm,  but  she  still 
moaned  out : 

"For  God's  sake  do  not  tell  them 
I  am  here." 

The  thought  of  doing  so  had  not 
for  a  moment  entered  his  mind,  and 
so  he  impulsively  told  her. 


94 


In  Bonds. 


"Thank  God  !  Thank  God  for 
that  !  "  she  cried.  ' '  And  you  will 
never  tell  them,  Mr.  Russell  ?  Oh, 
you  will  never  tell  them." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Russell  slow- 
ly, as  if  more  to  convince  himself 
than  his  hearer.  ' '  I  don't  see  that 
the  matter  is  any  business  of  mine. 
I  am  not  your  keeper,  though  I 
think  you  would  be  the  better  for 
one. " 

"Then  you  will  promise  to  be 
silent  ? " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  promise,"  speaking 
more  slowly  than  before.  ' '  You  're 
safe  in  your  bonds  for  me. " 

He  bowed,  and  rode  slowly  away, 
muttering  to  himself:  "She  will  do 
me  good  service  here.  There  was  a 
devil  in  Adela's  eyes  when  I  spoke  of 
her  and  Claude  to-day. " 

Mr.  Russell  rode  home  very  gaily 
that  day,  after  his  meeting  with  La 
Guerita,  saying  often  to  himself: 
"The  battle  is  not  always  to  the 
strong,  Claude  Leveredge.  A  word 
to  the  wise  is  enough,  and  Adela 
Holmes  is  wise.  God  bless  me  what 
a  world  this  is  we  live  in  !  That 
woman  is  mad,  by  Jove  ;  but  I  won- 
der what  Adela  thinks  ? " 

He  would  not  have  ridden  home 
so  blithely  had  he  known  how  small 
was  his  share  in  Adela's  thoughts, 
and  even  that  was  more  indicative  of 
contempt  than  any  other  emotion. 
"How  abominably  Claude  must 
have  acted, "  she  said.  ' '  I  hate  him 
for  it,"  adding  a  moment  after,  with 
woman's  inconsistency:  "Well,  if 
he  has,  Will  Russell  had  no  business 
to  insinuate  it  to  me,  and  make  a 
parade  of  his  own  strict  morality,  by 
pointing  out  the  delinquencies  of  my 
cousin." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  There  needs  no  other  charm,  no  conjurer, 
To  raise  infernal  spirits  up,  but  fear. 

Butler. 

DREARILY  the  first  months  of  slave 
life  passed  to  La  Guerita  DeCuba  ; 
her  mind  was  dulled,  and  her  deli- 
cate hands  were  hardened  by  toil,  for 
her  task-mistress  was  pitiless.  Deep- 
er and  deeper  the  iron  sank  into  the 
tortured  soul,  yet  no  awakening  came. 
No,  when  insult  upon  insult  was 
heaped  upon  the  once  proud  head, 
it  meekly  bent  to  receive  them  all, 
and  the  bruised  heart  never  once 
complained  or  questioned  the  justice 
of  its  fate,  finding  comfort  in  the 
thought  that  Harold  was  spared  from 
misery,  for  from  the  first  Miss  Holmes 
had  loved  the  boy,  and  proved  it 
in  a  hundred  ways  ;  and  the  mother 
was  content,  and  trod  her  thorny 
path,  and  shrank  not  from  the  sharp- 
est woes  that  came. 

Through  all  that  time  there  was  but 
one  to  comfort  her — the  child  Alfred. 
Oh,  what  a  thousand  darts  sprang 
from  the  lips  of  the  careless  Minna, 
and  sullen  Rufus  ;  how  they  stung 
her  very  soul  ;  but  Alfred  seemed  to 
recognize  in  her  something  higher 
than  his  father's  slave,  and  to  pre- 
serve some  remnant  of  her  old  life  to 
her. 

She  was  even  in  a  certain  way  hap- 
py when  alone  with  him,  and  in  his 
company  drew  the  first  breath  of  free- 
dom when  one  Saturday  afternoon 
she  was  sent  by  Aunt  Matilda  on 
some  trifling  message  to  Asenith 
Bray's. 

Her  heart  leapt  at  the  name.  At 
last  she  was  to  see  the  woman  who 
had  determined  her  future,  who  could 


In  Bonds. 


95 


tell  her  if  her  father  had  been  a  vil- 
lain or  no,  and  whether  her  mother 
had  been  weak  or  wicked. 

It  was  late  when  they  left  Holms- 
ford,  for  Miss  Matilda  had  been  about 
the  negro  cabin  all  day,  and  did  not 
notice  until  long  after  noon  that  Ce- 
lia's  baby  would  surely  die  if  it  didn't 
have  some  fresh  catnip  from  Asenith's 
that  very  day. 

" Isn't  aunt  an  old  fidget,"  said 
Alfred  laughing  ;  "I  don't  believe 
there 's  a  thing  the  matter  with  that 
baby,  but  she  drenches  them  all 
around  once  a  week  with  catnip,  or 
some  other  bitter  stuff,  on  principle. 
But  we  must  hurry,  Miss  Rita,  or 
else — though  it  isn't  two  miles — 
we  shan't  get  home  till  dark,  and 
then  you'd  be  afraid  of  the  ghosts  in 
the  pines." 

' '  What  ghosts  ? "  she  asked,  list- 
lessly. 

"  All  sorts  of  ones.  The  negroes 
see  them  even-  night ;  nobody  else 
does  though.  There 's  uncle  'Riah's 
ghost  that  sits  in  the  fork  of  a  great 
tree  ;  we  call  him  the  angel  Gabriel, 
though  'Riah  himself  says  it 's  his  old 
master  who  died  years  ago,  and  was 
never  in  these  woods  in  his  life. 
Then  there 's  Aunt  Elsie's  pet  ghost, 
a  young  lady  who  walks  by  the  river 
with  her  hair  all  down,  and  a  look- 
ing-glass in  her  hand,  like  a  stranded 
mermaid. " 

' '  And  who  is  that  ghost  ? "  asked 
La  Guerita. 

"Nobody  can  decide.  I  guess, 
as  you  say  to  Rufus  about  his 
dreaming  sometimes,  it  is  a  fancy 
sketch.  But  the  ghost  that  Aunt 
Dilsey  sees  is  the  best  of  all.  I'd 
just  like  to  see  and  hear  that  fellow 
myself. " 


' '  What,  does  Aunt  Dilsey's  ghost 
speak?" 

"No,  he's  awfully  provoking; 
won't  say  a  word,  though  it  must  be 
able  to,  for  it  cries  and  moans  for 
hours  together. " 

La  Guerita  felt  a  strange  terror 
creeping  over  her  as  she  listened  to 
the  boy's  laughingly-spoken  words  ; 
but  not  noticing  her,  he  continued  : 
' '  Yes,  he  cries  and  moans  for  hours 
together.  We  children  were  awfully 
frightened  when  first  we  heard  of  it, 
for  Uncle  Acton  hadn't  been  dead 
but  a  few  weeks,  and  it  was  enough 
to  scare  a  fellow  to  have  him  come 
back  so  soon.  Rufe  says  now  that 
when  he  is  alone  in  the  dark,  he  feels 
as  if  he  was  being  lifted  up  by  the 
hair,  and  rushed  off  into  space  by 
some  invisible  hand.  La,  Miss  Rita, 
I  Ve  scared  you,  why  'tain't  nothing 
to  be  afraid  of. " 

1 '  But  Acton  Holmes, "  she  gasped, 
' '  who  dares  say  that  he  walks  the 
earth  ?  Who  dares  say  it  ?"  wildly 
asking  herself  if  he  knew  the  sorrows 
that  had  befallen  his  child,  and  if  they 
had  made  him  restless  in  his  grave. 

"Why,  I  told  you  Aunt  Dilsey," 
cried  Alfred  in  astonishment,  laugh- 
ing as  he  added,  ' '  she 's  always  see- 
ing something.  But  what  do  you 
think  Aunt  Matilda  said  when  she 
heard  of  Uncle  Acton's  ghost  ?  '  It's 
just  what  I  expected,  said  she,  '  I 
told  him  when  he  was  a  dying  that  it 
was  just  like  his  perverseness,  and 
that  he'd  regret  it  before  a  month. 
But  sakes  alive  he  might  have  re- 
mained put ;  when  any  body  once 
gets  into  a  box,  I  believe  in  their 
staying  there,  but  Acton  never  did 
have  any  respect  for  anybody's  feel- 
ings. '  ' 


96 


In  Bonds. 


"  These  are  gloomy  woods/'  said 
La  Guerita,  striving  to  say  something. 
' '  No  wonder  the  negroes  see  ghosts 
in  them,  or  fancy  that  they  do. " 

"But  'tisn't  here  that  Aunt  Dilsey 
sees  the  ghost/'  said  Alfred,  still 
laughing  ;  ' '  that  is  to  say,  not  just 
here,  though  you  can  see  the  old  cot- 
tage through  an  opening  in  the  woods 
a  little  further  on. " 

"A  little  cottage  !"  said  La  Gue- 
rita  eagerly.  O  Alfred,  can  you  show 
it  to  me  ? " 

' '  Of  course  I  can,  Miss  Rita.  But 
how  funny  that  you  should  care 
about  it.  It  is  nothing  but  a  ruin 
now. " 

' '  So  I  supposed, "  she  returned 
eagerly,  "but  I  love  ruins,  Alfred. 
Ah,  is  that  the  place  ? " 

' '  Yes, "  returned  Alfred,  ' '  I  can 
just  see  the  chimnies  now.  Why, 
how  quick  your  eyes  must  be  ? " 
.  ' '  I  wonder  if  we  could  make  time 
to  go  there, "  she  said  eagerly,  glanc- 
ing at  her  watch,  the  only  relic  of 
the  past  that  she  wore  ;  "  O  Alfred, 
I  wish  you  would  go  over  there  with 
me,  it  is  not  so  very  far  out  of  the 
way." 

"But  we  are  almost  at  Aunt 
Sene's, "  said  he  doubtfully  ;  "  I  don't 
think  we  had  better  .go  there  now. 
Let  us  do  our  errand  first,  and  then 
we  shall  see  what  time  we  have  left, " 
thinking  to  himself  that  it  would  be 
hard  to  miss  a  luncheon  at  Asenith's 
because  of  the  whim  of  Rita's. 

La  Guerita  followed  the  boy  as  he 
strode  quickly  on,  with  the  slavish 
impulse  of  obedience  that  had  for 
months  rendered  her  a  mere  ma- 
chine, yet  still  with  her  eyes  fixed  on 
the  old  ruin. 

"It's   strange    that    you    should 


care  ;"  Alfred  said  again,  as  he  no- 
ticed her  fixed  gaze,  ' '  but  I  tell  you 
what,  Miss  Rita,  we'll  go  there  as 
we  come  back.  'T  would  be  fun  to 
brave  the  ghosts  in  the  twilight,  you 
know. " 

"Ah,  perhaps  after  all  that  will 
be  best.  Let  us  walk  faster,  Alfred. " 

' '  All  right ;  I  am  willing  to  run 
if  you  ain't  tired.  But  I  say,  Rita, 
don't  you  think  Aunt  Matilda's  a 
funny  old  woman.  Oh,  I  know  you 
do,  and  you'll  see  another  directly." 

"  Indeed  !" 

"Yes,  that  you  will;  not  that 
Aunt  Asenith  is  a  bit  like  Aunt  Ma- 
tilda. She's  just  as  good  as  she  can 
be,  but  you'll  see  her  pretty  soon. 
There 's  her  house,  and — yes — there 
is  Aunt  Sene  at  the  door. " 

They  had  reached  a  bend  in  the 
road,  and  turning  it  came  suddenly 
upon  a  little  red  house  with  a  low 
gabled  roof,  and  half-a-dozen  wings 
and  porticoes,  which  was  set  in  the 
middle  of  a  few  fields  that  had  been 
cleared  in  the  midst  of  the  dark 
pines. 

House  and  fields  seemed  alike  to 
belong  to  a  by-gone  age.  The  first 
because  of  its  tiny  windows,  its  dull 
red  hue,  and  the  giant  trees  that 
shaded  it ;  the  latter  from  the  stunt- 
ed corn,  and  the  tangled  weeds  that 
filled  the  corners  of  the  low,  strag- 
gling fences. 

' '  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  queer 
place  ?"  said  Alfred,  as  La  Guerita 
gazed  wondering  around.  She  in- 
deed never  had,  and  it  seemed  to  her 
scarcely  possible  that  such  a  quaint, 
weird  place  should  be  upon  the 
earth.  The  garden  was  filled  with  a 
thousand  varieties  of  flowers,  fruits, 
vegetables,  and  herbs.  Here  a  copse 


In  Bonds. 


97 


of  roses  so  thick  as  to  be  impenetra- 
ble, there  a  patch  of  corn  or  cotton. 
On  one  side  a  hill  of  potatoes,  and 
on  the  other  a  bank  of  creamy  lilies, 
with  a  bed  of  onions,  and  another  of 
turnips,  as  neighbors. 

La  Guerita  glanced  at  these  and 
the  thick-stemmed  grape-vines  that 
covered  the  broken  trellises  and  clam- 
bered over  the  old  trees,  in  sur- 
prise, but  her  attention  was  presently 
riveted  by  a  figure  which  stood  in 
one  of  the  porticoes,  and  beckoned 
them  in.  It  was  that  of  a  woman  far 
advanced  in  years,  yet  slender  and 
straight  as  an  arrow.  She  was  clothed 
in  a  gray  homespun  dress,  with  a 
kerchief  of  snowy  net  folded  across 
her  bosom,  and  a  cap  of  the  same 
material  drawn  closely  around  her 
face — a  face  that  had  evidently  once 
been  beautiful,  that  bore  the  traces 
of  many  tears,  and  that  in  spite  of  the 
furrows  upon  it  was  beautiful  still 
with  that  serenity  which  in  old  age 
rewards  a  well-spent  life. 

' '  There's  Aunt  Asenith  ! "  cried 
Alfred,  and  rushed  forward  to  greet 
her,  kissing  her  with  boyish  enthu- 
siasm. 

La  Guerita  slowly  drew  near,  and 
looking  at  her  sharply  with  her  glit- 
tering black  eyes,  Asenith  said  :  ' '  And 
who  is  this  with  thee,  Alfred  ?" 

The  boy  glanced  at  his  companion 
in  some  confusion,  and  stammered 
out :  "Why,  this — this  is  Rita,  Aunt 
Sene  " — adding,  in  a  whisper,  which 
was,  however,  distinctly  heard  by  La 
Guerita  :  ' '  She  is  a  new  one,  that 
pa  bought  the  other  day,  and  she 
teaches  us. " 

Asenith  did  not  seem  at  all  sur- 
prised, though  her  face  wore  a  griev- 
ed expression  as  she  greeted  La  Gue- 
13 


rita,  and  invited  her  to  enter  the 
house,  leading  the  way  from  the  por- 
tico, hung  with  strings  of  red  pep- 
pers, onions,  and  herbs,  into  a  low, 
dark  room,  filled  with  articles  of 
ever)7  description  and  of  every  form 
and  size.  The  room  was,  in  reality, 
quite  large,  but  it  was  so  surrounded 
with  shelves  and  filled  with  tables — 
all  of  which  were  laden  with  heaps 
of  barks,  roots,  and  parcels  of  herbs 
— that  it  looked  less  than  half  its  real 
size. 

"I  keep  everything  in  sight,"  re- 
marked Asenith,  in  explanation  of 
the  disorder,  as  she  dislodged  a  huge 
pumpkin  from  a  chair  and  swept  an 
armful  of  herbs  from  another,  that 
her  guests  might  be  seated.  "I 
dare  say,  Alfred,  thee  couldn't  find  a 
given  thing  upon  any  of  these  tables. " 

"Not  unless  it  was  by  accident," 
he  returned,  laughing;  "though, 
goodness  knows,  it  looks  as  if  there 
was  a  little  of  everything  here.  I 
suppose  you  know  where  to  lay  your 
hand  on  everything,  Aunt  Sene  ?" 

"Oh,  yes,"  she  answered,  smil- 
ing, "these  tables  and  shelves  are 
like  open  books  to  me.  Here,  un- 
der these  pine  cones,  is  a  basket  of 
the  red  apples  thee  loves  so  well,  and 
there  are  a  good  many  bunches  of 
grapes  ripe  at  the  south  end  of  the 
garden ;  thee  'd  better  run  and  get 
some  before  thee  goes. " 

Alfred  waited  no  second  bidding, 
but  rushed  into  the  garden,  and  La 
Guerita  was  left  alone  with  the  Qua- 
keress, who  had  not  even  cast  a  glance 
upon  her  since  her  entrance  into  the 
house.  When,  however,  they  were 
alone,  she  turned  toward  her  with  a 
grieved  look  in  her  keen  eyes,  and 
said,  slowly  : 


In  Bonds. 


"Thee'rt  very  like  thy  mother  ! 
Ah,  I  knew  it  could  be  none  other 
than  thee  when  I  heard  of  the  white 
slave  at  Holmsford." 

La  Guerita  made  no  reply,  half 
resenting  in  her  heart  the  pity  ex- 
pressed in  Asenith's  gentle  voice. 

1 '  Tell  me  why  thou  art  here, "  she 
continued,  persuasively,  after  a  mo- 
ment's pause.  "Ah,  child,  child, 
I  thought  I  had  secured  thee  from 
this." 

' '  What  could  you  expect  but  that 
I  should  return  ?"  cried  La  Guerita, 
excitedly.  ' ( What  right  had  you  to 
place  me  in  a  sphere  so  foreign  to 
my  own  ?  Did  you  think  you  could 
thwart  the  purposes  of  your  God  ?" 

Asenith  looked  up  in  amazement 
and  alarm.  ' '  My  God  !  "  she  ejac- 
ulated, ' '  and  why  not  thine  ?  Hast 
thou  no  belief  in  God  ? " 

"Yes,  I  believe!"  she  retorted, 
fiercely ;  "I  believe  in  God,  because 
none  but  a  supernatural  power  could 
have  poured  into  my  life  this  over- 
whelming flood  of  bitterness." 

The  Quakeress  shrank  from  her 
visitor's  outstretched  hands  and  fiery 
gaze.  ' '  Tell  me  !  "  she  cried,  im- 
ploringly, "what  has  come  upon 
thee  ? " 

And  once  more  the  passionate 
words  burst  forth  by  which  her  tale 
of  agony  was  made  known,  and  from 
Asenith  Bray  not  one  word  was 
withheld. 

Asenith  Bray  knew  not,  could 
never  tell,  how  she  was  pledged  to 
secrecy ;  but  although  she  would 
have  given  worlds  to  have  used  the 
power  that  lay  in  her  hands,  and  to 
have  freed  the  maddened  woman,  she 
dared  not  hope  to  do  it,  for  strll  she 
breathed  forth  that  awful  vow  :  "I 


will  not  return  alive  to  the  home  and 
family  I  have  disgraced  !  " 

Ah,  how  bitterly  she  felt  her  help- 
lessness ;  but  there  came  a  ray  of 
comfort  in  the  thought  that  this 
dreadful  madness  would  not  last, 
and  she  said,  brokenly:  "My  poor 
child,  I  pity  thee  !  God  pities  thee  !  " 

' '  Don't  speak  to  me  of  God  !  " 
cried  La  Guerita,  impatiently ;  "it 
maddens  me.  I  have  felt  His  wrath, 
but  never,  never  His  pity  !  Speak  to 
me  of  something  else ;  tell  me  of  my 
parents  !  Tell  me  how  you  dared 
take  me  from  my  mother's  arms  and 
cast  me  forth  to  meet  my  horrible 
fate?" 

The  old  Quakeress  bowed  her  head 
and  wept ;  and  then,  in  faltering  ac- 
cents, told  all  that  had  passed,  dwell- 
ing long  upon  the  magnanimity  of 
Acton  Holmes,  and  the  repentance 
of  Dolores.  Her  tears,  her  words, 
softened  the  obdurate  heart  of  La 
Guerita  ;  for  the  first  time  her  heart 
yearned  for  the  mother  she  had  des- 
pised, and  it  was  in  a  gentle  voice 
she  said  at  last :  "I  must  see  the 
house  where  she  lived  and  suffered, 
Asenith.  Come,  let  us  go  to  the 
house  where  I  was  born. " 

Asenith  consented,  though  appar- 
ently struck  with  some  surprise  at 
the  unexpected  proposal.  ' '  Perhaps 
it  is  best, "  she  said,  musingly ;  ' '  wait 
for  a  moment  and  I  will  go  with  thee, 
although  the  sun  is  already  low." 

She  went  into  the  garden,  and  after 
a  few  minutes  returned,  saying  to 
La  Guerita  :  "Alfred  will  follow  us  ; 
let  us  hasten.  But  first  give  me  thy 
little  basket ;  thee  must  not  forget  the 
catnip. " 

All  this  was  said  as  quietly  as  if 
nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  the 


In  Bonds. 


99 


tranquility  of  her  mind.  Throwing 
on  a  sun-bonnet  of  drab  cotton,  she 
left  her  house,  with  all  its  windows 
and  doors  open,  saying,  with  a  smile  : 
"No  one  will  trouble  aught  of  Ase- 
nith  Bray's." 

In  a  few  moments  they  were  in 
the  woods,  the  Quakeress  traversing 
them  like  one  who  knew  well  each 
winding  path.  Presently  she  select- 
ed one  that  seemed  less  trodden  than 
any  other,  and  which,  indeed,  the 
drifts  of  pine  straw  rendered  almost 
undistinguishable.  La  Guerita  fol- 
lowed her  silently,  catching  at  inter- 
vals glimpses  of  the  yellow  river 
through  the  dark  pines,  and  at  length 
coming  suddenly  upon  the  ruins  they 
sought. 

The  narrow  path  terminated  sud- 
denly in  a  gap  of  a  straggling,  broken 
fence,  that  surrounded  what  was  once 
a  garden,  but  which  was  now  a  wil- 
derness of  rank  herbage.  The  rear 
of  the  little  dwelling  was  toward 
them,  and  over  it  trailed  a  poisonous 
vine,  with  its  scarlet  and  yellow  trum- 
pets floating  gaudily  in  the  evening 
breeze.  Great  patches  of  moss  clung 
to  the  roof  of  the  ruinous  porch  and 
down  the  tottering  pillars,  while 
loose  shingles  and  staves  of  the  rail- 
ing flapped  uneasily  together,  awak- 
ening the  only  sound  that  disturbed 
the  scene. 

Passing  through  this  porch,  Ase- 
nith  Bray  led  the  way  into  the  house, 
gazing  sorrowfully  around  the  one 
large  room,  and  the  two  smaller  that 
were  revealed  by  great  rents  in  the 
partitions,  from  which  the  plastering 
fell  in  great  pieces  as  they  softly 
moved  over  the  tumbling  floors. 

"In  that  room  thee  were  born," 
said  Asenith,  softly,  pointing  to  the 


right,  ' l  and  in  this  thy  mother  gave 
thee  to  Acton's  arms  when  she  could 
only  turn  with  cries  and  moans  from 
me.  Ah,  how  well  I  remember  the 
day  she  bade  all  these  scenes  farewell 
forever. " 

Asenith  looked  at  La  Guerita  as  if 
she  expected — almost  wished — to  be 
questioned,  but  she  was  in  no  mood 
for  speech.  She  wandered  from  room 
to  room  silently,  passing  through  them 
each  a  dozen  times  or  more — return- 
ing to  them  again  and  again,  as  if 
seeking  some  relic  of  the  past.  She 
found  none.  The  house  had  been 
deserted  twenty  years  ;  not  a  trace — 
not  a  vestige  of  human  life  remained. 

' '  The  hand  of  Time  has  fallen 
heavily  here,"  said  Asenith,  musing- 
ly. ' '  It  seems  but  yesterday  that 
these  rooms  were  radiant  with  their 
gilded  cornices  and  crimson  hang- 
ings, and  echoed  the  merry  laughter 
of  children  ;  now  the  spiders  and 
bats  alone  inhabit  it,  and  the  owl's 
shrill  cry  is  all  that  breaks  the  still- 
ness." 

La  Guerita  DeCuba  stood  silently 
in  the  open  door-way,  gazing  fixedly 
before  her.  Asenith  looked  upon 
her  keenly,  seeing  that  she  gradually 
became  pale  and  trembling  in  every 
limb ;  and  at  last  sprang  back,  shriek- 
ing wildly:  "Look!  look!  look! 
I  knew  he  would  come.  There — 
there,  in  the  roses  at  the  gate  ?  " 

1 '  My  God,  then  she  u  mad  ? "  ex- 
claimed the  affrighted  Quakeress, 
tearing  herself  from  the  rigid  clasp 
and  ejaculating  faintly  :  "Be  calm 
— be  calm,  there  is  nothing  there ; 
there  are  no  roses  at  the  gate. " 

' '  Hush  !  you  have  driven  him 
away ! "  she  returned,  in  a  fierce 
whisper ;  "he  was  there  at  the  gate  ; 


IOO 


In  Bonds. 


he  stood  among  the  roses,  and  look- 
ed at  me  as  he  did  one  day  in  the 
bower  at  Greymont. " 

" Thee' it  dreaming,  child,"  said 
the  quakeress  soothingly,  but  firmly. 
' '  I  did  wrong  to  bring  thee  here. 
But  here  comes  Alfred,  thee  must  say 
nothing  to  him  of  thy  excited  fan- 
cies." 

' '  I  knew  he  would  come, "  she 
said,  in  the  same  fierce  whisper  ; 
' '  he  wanted  to  speak  to  me,  and  now 
you  and  that  boy  have  frightened  him 
away. " 

Asenith  clasped  her  wrist  tightly, 
and  looked  into  her  flashing  eyes. 
Thee  knows  thee's  dreaming,"  she 
said  ;  ' '  Come  with  me  to  the  gateway, 
thee'll  see  thy  senses  have  deceived 
thee." 

La  Guerita  drew  her  hand  across 
her  brow,  and  sighed  deeply,  saying 
at  last  :  ' '  Yes,  yes,  you  are  right  ; 
but — but  dreams  more  than  realities 
have  to  do  with  me  now. " 

"  Thee  must  cast  them  away  from 
thee  child. " 

She  shook  her  head,  saying  hur- 
riedly as  Alfred  entered  the  inclo- 
sure,  whistling  gaily  :  ' '  They  will 
come — these  terrible  dreams.  Oh, 
they  rush  over  my  poor  brain  thick 
and  fast — thick  and  fast. " 

' '  But  they  are  quite  gone  now  ? " 
queried  Asenith  anxiously  :  ' '  Quite 
gone  !  Farewell ;  'tis  growing  late. " 

La  Guerita  turned  toward  Alfred 
and  hurriedly  left  the  house.  The 
Quakeress  looked  after  her,  mutter- 
ing :  ' '  Poor  child  ;  poor  child  ;  thy 
reason  has  a  mighty  task  before  it  ere 
it  shall  regain  its  throne,  and  I  dare 
not  act  till  then.  I  know  too  well 
the  blood  within  thee  !  Ah,  those 
dreams !  thy  mother  had  them  be- 


fore thee,  when  these  crumbling  ru- 
ins were  fair  and  beautiful. " 

She  left  the  old  house,  slowly  and 
sadly  returning  to  her  dwelling,  while 
Alfred  and  La  Guerita  walked  hastily 
through  the  gloomy  woods,  the  form- 
er talking  gaily  of  the  old  Quakeress, 
and  her  isolated  mode  of  living. 

' '  Through  the  summer, "  he  said, 
' '  she  scours  the  woods  for  miles 
around  for  roots  and  herbs,  and  puts 
them  in  readiness  for  use,  giving  free- 
ly to  all  that  ask  for  them.  I  don't 
think  she  would  even  let  a  dog  want 
while  she  had  a  morsel  in  the  world. 
Aunt  Matilda  said  one  day  that 
'Senith  would  give  the  heart  out  of 
her  body  if  the  Lord  hadn  't  made  it 
so  good  that  it  was  no  use  to  anybody 
but  an  angel. " 

So  he  chatted  on,  and  La  Guerita 
hearing  yet  not  heeding  his  words, 
with  a  mighty  effort  put  away  the 
light — demon  peopled — that  strove 
to  enter  her  darkened  mind.  Ex- 
orcising the  demon  of  memory  by  all 
the  cruel  logic  of  madness,  and  mut- 
tering to  herself  once  more  :  "I  am 
making  atonement !" 

' '  I  thought  you  were  waiting  for 
that  catnip  to  grow, "  said  Aunt  Ma- 
tilda as  the  twain  entered  the  gate  at 
Holmsford. 

' '  No,  we  were  waiting  for  ghosts  in 
the  pines  ! "  returned  Alfred  laughing. 

' '  And  found  them,  too,  I  reckon, " 
muttered  the  old  lady,  looking  keenly 
after  the  retreating  form  of  La  Gue- 
rita. "  Now,  you  Alf.  go  right  into 
the  house,  and  don't  be  talking  any 
nonsense  to  Rufe.  Such  catnip  as 
you've  brought  me  !  Nothing  but 
old  stalks,  I  declare,  that  haven't  got 
strength  enough  in  them  to  affect  a 
fly!" 


In  Bonds. 


101 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  When  I  take  the  humor  of  a  thing  once,  I  am 
like  your  tailor's  needle — I  go  through." 

Ben  Jonson. 

A  WEEK  from  the  day  that  La  Gue- 
rita  DeCuba  made  that,  to  her,  ever 
memorable  visit  to  Asenith  Bray, 
Aunt  Matilda  thought  as  the  day  was 
fine  that  she  would  take  a  walk,  and 
accordingly  after  putting  on  an  extra 
cape,  and  filling  her  snuff-box,  she 
set  out,  complacently  enjoying  the 
snuff  as  she  went. 

She  walked  on  briskly  for  some 
time,  neither  looking  to  the  right 
nor  to  the  left,  but  straight  before 
her,  as  if  she  half  expected  to  meet 
a  friend. 

That  expectation  was  not  disap- 
pointed, for  soon  she  descried  Ase- 
nith Bray,  in  her  neat  Quaker  array, 
approaching. 

Miss  Matilda  paused,  and  observ- 
ed her  keenly,  entirely  ignoring  the 
fact  that  she  was  some  months  older 
than  Asenith,  and  looked  at  least  a 
score  of  years  her  senior,  and  the  ac- 
cent of  pity  in  her  voice  was  quite 
genuine,  as  she  muttered  : 

' '  Yes,  yes,  they  tell  upon  her,  the 
years  tell  upon  her  ;  she's  beginning 
to  stoop  ;  and  her  hair — bless  me 
how  white  her  hair  is  ;"  fancying  to 
herself,  no  doubt,  that  her  own  fri- 
sdtc  was  above  suspicion. 

' '  I  thought  you  would  come  to- 
day, "  she  said,  as  she  shook  hands 
with  her  friend.  ' '  'Twas  a  week  ago 
to-day  you  saw  her,  so  I  didn't  ex- 
pect you  before  ;  you  are  always  so 
deliberate  about  everything. " 

' '  Ah,  yes, "  returned  the  Quaker- 
ess with  a  genial  smile,  "  thee  re- 
members that  ever  was  the  difference 


'twixt  thee  and  me.  How  is  thy 
health  ?  Thee  looks  a  little  worn,  I 
fancy. " 

"It's  not  to  be  expected  that  I 
look  as  young  as  when  I  was  a  girl," 
retorted  Miss  Matilda  ;  ' '  neither  do 
you  for  that  matter.  Am  I  mistaken, 
'Senith,  or  did  I  see  a  pair  of  spec's 
in  your  hand  as  I  came  up  ? " 

' '  It's  very  probable  that  thee  saw 
them,  Matilda,"  replied  Asenith, 
smiling.  ' '  Thee  will  wonder  at  their 
richness.  I  question  whether  it  is 
right  for  me  to  wear  these  golden 
rims,  but  Claude  Leveredgegave  them 
to  me,  and  'twould  have  seemed  un- 
gracious to  refuse. " 

Miss  Matilda  shrugged  her  shoul- 
ders, saying,  contemptuously  :  "So 
he  went  to  see  you  when  he  was 
home,  eh  ?  I  didn't  have  a  chance 
to  see  him,  but  from  all  I  heard,  I 
should  think  he  was  as  mad  as  a 
March  hare." 

"Verily  it  seemed  so,"  returned 
Asenith. 

"  If  he  didn't  belong  to  the  family, " 
said  Miss  Matilda,  frowning  myste- 
riously, * '  I'd  give  you  my  opinion 
of  him.  I'd  tell  you  that  there  was 
murder  or  something  worse  in  that 
man's  mind." 

Asenith  was  used  to  such  confi- 
dences from  Miss  Matilda,  and  smil- 
ed, saying  : 

"  I  didn't  come  to  thee  to  talk  of 
Claude  Leveredge,  Matilda,  but  of 
his  cousin,  thee  knows  which  one  I 
mean  ? " 

' '  Yes.  But  you  needn't  call  her 
his  cousin, "  she  returned  peevishly : 
"You'll  be  making  her  out  some 
relation  to  me  next." 

"No.  Acton  Holmes  was  no  re- 
lation of  thine.  Thee  said  just  now 


IO2 


In  Bonds. 


thee  thought  Claude  Leveredge  crazy 
last  spring  ;  what  does  thee  think  of 
her?" 

"Rita?" 

Asenith  nodded. 

Miss  Matilda  shook  her  head  sage- 
ly. ' '  Well,  well,  'tis  hard  to  say  ; 
if  she  was  white,  I  should  say  she  was 
mad — mad  as  anybody  in  Bedlam  ; 
but,  as  Uncle  Ben  says  :  '  Niggers  is 
mighty  apt  to  'possum. '  But  if  she 
aint  'possuming,  she's  mad.  What 
do  you  think  ? " 

' '  Hast  thee  heard  her  story  ? " 
asked  Asenith. 

' '  No.  No  one  ever  tells  me  any- 
thing any  more  than  they'd  whistle  to 
a  snake  that  they  did  not  want  to  stop 
and  bite  them." 

Asenith  laughed,  and  laying  her 
hand  upon  Miss  Matilda's  arms, 
said  :  "I  am  not  afraid  to  tell  thee 
of  this,  and  I  know  thee  too  well  to 
think  thee  will  breathe  a  word  of  it  to 
another. " 

She  repeated  La  Guerita's  tale, 
word  for  word,  thinking  to  herself, 
' '  Poor  child,  I  will  at  least  win  one 
friend  for  thee. " 

"I'd  like  to  find  out  that  fellow 
who  told  her  husband,"  exclaimed 
Miss  Matilda.  "I'd  like  to  seal  up 
his  eyes  and  mouth  with  melted  lead. 
I  'd  teach  him  to  peer  and  pry  into 
other  people's  concerns,  and  then  to 
blazon  them  all  over  the  country. 
Shallow  fellow  that  husband  of  hers 
must  have  been,  too  ;  dying  because 
his  wife  had  a  drop  of  negro  blood  in 
her.  Not  worth  going  mad  about, 
I'll  wager." 

"But  she  loved  him  !  "  said  Ase- 
nith gently. 

' '  'Sposin'  she  did  ? "  retorted  Miss 
Matilda,  ' '  she  needn't  have  gone 


crazy  about  him.  I  wonder  what 
folks  would  have  said  if  you'd  have 
cut  up  so  the  day  that  Nathan  Ireton 
was  found  dead  ;  the  very  day  you 
were  to  have  been  married  to  him, 
too." 

Asenith  turned  pale,  but  she  re- 
plied in  a  low,  steady  voice  :  '  *  The 
Lord  helped  me  ;  I  had  been  taught 
to  trust  in  Him,  but  this  poor  child 
had  no  faith,  and  the  mighty  burden 
crushed  her." 

' '  And  another  burden  is  crushing 
her  now, "  said  Miss  Matilda. 

Asenith  looked  at  her  inquiringly. 

"If  you'd  stay  at  Holmsford  a 
week,  you'd  know  what  I  mean," 
continued  Miss  Matilda,  "  I  suppose 
you've  heard  that  it's  the  last  straw  that 
breaks  the  camel's  back,  and  al- 
though I  don't  mean  to  say  that  Rita's 
a  camel,  Adela  treats  her  as  one  in  a 
moral  sense,  and  never  had  a  poor 
animal  a  more  pitiless  driver  than  she 
makes  herself  to  that  mazed  creature 
we're  talking  of. " 

The  Quakeress  looked  discon- 
certed. 

' '  So  you  can't  fancy  Adela  a  load- 
er of  camels,  eh  !"  asked  Miss  Ma- 
tilda. 

"  It  is  hard  to,  verily. " 

' '  Well  I  can  tell  you  she  isn't  a 
new  hand  at  the  business  ;  she's  been 
packing  her  straws  on  to  me  ever 
since  she  was  knee  high.  If  ever 
there  was  a  tyrant  born  in  this  world, 
it's  Adela  Holmes. " 

' '  No,  no,  she  is  not  a  tyrant, "  re- 
turned Asenith  quickly,  "but  only 
too  quick  and  suspicious — only  too 
fond  of  power  for  a  woman. " 

" That's  all  very  well  to  talk  of," 
said  Miss  Matilda,  "  but  I  don't  un- 
derstand her." 


In  Bonds. 


103 


' '  Neither  does  she  understand  her- 
self, but  a  day  will  come  when  she 
will,  and  when  she  will  deeply  re- 
pent her  folly — if  indeed  she  has  been 
guilty  of  it — of  persecuting  that  poor, 
mad  girl,  that  has  made  herself  a 
slave  from  motives  too  pure  and  high 
to  be  known  to  common  minds." 

1 '  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  how 
Adela  manages  to  torment  her,"  said 
Miss  Matilda,  "but  I  can't  for  the 
life  of  me.  When  I  see  them  to- 
gether it  makes  me  think  of  a  pic- 
ture in  Minna's  primer,  of  an  eagle 
beating  its  wings  and  screeching  in 
agony,  while  a  tiny  humming-bird 
bores  its  sharp  beak  into  its  brain, 
quite  undisturbed  by  the  fury  it 
awakens. " 

' '  That  is  horrible — exquisite  tor- 
ture ! "  murmured  Asenith. 

' '  'Taint  in  nature  not  to  feel  bad 
when  a  body  sees  it, "  said  Miss  Ma- 
tilda ;  "makes  me  think  of  all  kinds 
of  scratchin',  bitin'  things.  You've 
knocked  your  hand  sometimes  against 
a  nettle,  I  guess  ? " 

"Yes." 

"Well,  then,  you  remember  how 
it  stung  you — viciously  and  sharply 
— without  breaking  a  single  point. 
And  so  Adela  stings  that  girl,  making 
her  wince  and  groan,  but  never  los- 
ing an  atom  of  virus — never  blunting 
the  points  of  her  animosity. " 

Asenith  listened  in  horror,  know- 
ing that  in  these  few  sentences  she 
was  gaining  more  than  anyone  else 
either  could  or  would  tell  her. 

"  I  am  grieved,  I  am  astonished," 
she  said.  "Thy  niece  must  be  as 
changeable  as  the  weather. " 

"More  so,"  returned  Miss  Ma- 
tilda ;  "  she  used  to  be  a  regular 
abolitionist,  always  botherin'  Norton 


to  free  his  slaves,  and  now  her  whole 
life  and  soul  is  bent  on  persecutin' 
Rita.  I  only  wish  the  stupid  crea- 
ture would  grasp  the  nettle  that's  al- 
ways stingin'  her  ;  I  expect  to  see 
her  do  it  yet — slave  or  no  slave — it 
is  not  because  she's  powerless  that 
she  bears  Adela's  thrusts  so  gently. " 

They  had  reached  the  gate  of  the 
garden  at  Holmsford,  and  looking 
around  her  keenly,  Asenith  made 
ready  to  accost  anyone  that  might  be 
in  sight.  There  were  only  two  or 
three  negroes  on  whom  to  bestow 
her  smiles  and  nods  of  recognition, 
so  she  followed  Miss  Matilda  into 
the  house,  where  they  found  Adela 
sitting  alone  in  the  parlor. 

She  greeted  the  Quakeress  warmly, 
saying,  with  joyful  surprise  :  "I  am 
so  glad  to  see  you  here,  Aunt  Ase- 
nith, and  so  sorry  that  mamma  is  not 
at  home,  she  would  have  been  de- 
lighted to  see  you. " 

She  removed  the  bonnet  and  shawl 
of  her  aged  visitor,  chatting  gaily, 
until  Aunt  Asenith  said  :  "  Thee 
looks  pale,  Adela." 

' '  Ah, "  she  said,  ' '  it  would  be  no 
wonder  if  we  all  looked  pale,  Aunt 
Sene.  I  learn  by  to-day's  paper  that 
Lincoln  is  really  elected,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  South  Carolina 
will  secede." 

"  Well,  let  South  Carolina  secede  ! 
WTho  cares  if  she  does  ? "  cried  Aunt 
Matilda  defiantly.  ' '  I'm  sure  she's 
welcome  to  go.  Always  was  like  a 
rattlesnake  in  a  prairie  dog's  burrow, 
always  hissing  and  coiling,  and  mak- 
ing things  uncomfortable.  I  never 
could  abide  South  Carolina. " 

Adela  smiled,  saying  :  "And  she, 
too,  I  think  does  not  waste  much 
love  on  us.  But  you  know,  as  Mr. 


IO4 


In   Bonds. 


Gordon  says,  the  Southern  sisters  will 
cling  to  each  other,  and  if  South 
Carolina  secedes,  the  Old  North  State 
will  follow." 

"I'd  just  like  to  know  what  Er- 
nest Gordon  knows  about  it  ? "  re- 
turned Miss  Matilda  contemptuously. 
"Ernest  Gordon  thinks  everybody 
is  like  him,  and  would  do  anything 
in  the  world  for  a  parcel  of  slaves. 
I  never  shall  forget  the  first  one  he 
owned.  There  was  a  speculator 

drivin'  a  gang  through  M ,  and 

among  them  he  had  a  little  sickly 
girl  about  a  year  and  a  half  old,  and 
it  was  so  weak  and  puny  he  'lowed 
'twarn't  no  use  to  take  it  any  further, 
so  he  took  it  out  of  its  mother's  arms, 
and  she  a  cryin',  poor  thing,  like  rain 
— and  gave  it  to  Ernest  Gordon.  I 
never  saw  anybody  so  pleased  in  all 
my  life.  You  see  his  folks  had  been 
nothing  but  white  trash  before,  and 
that  little  creetur  seemed  to  set  'em 
right  up.  He  showed  her  to  every- 
body, and  declared  'twas  the  finest 
child  he'd  ever  seen  in  his  life.  Well, 
Mrs.  Gordon  had  twin  babies  then, 
and  took  boarders  besides,  with  only 
a  little  slip  of  a  white  girl  to  help  her, 
but  she  just  worked  over  that  little 
darkey,  as  if  her  own  life  depended 
upon  it.  But  'twas  all  no  use,  the 
creetur  died,  and  Ernest  Gordon 
didn't  hold  up  his  head  for  six  months 
afterward. " 

Adela's  mind  was  evidently  op- 
pressed, for  she  did  not  laugh,  and 
when  Miss  Matilda  left  the  room 
threw  herself  down  by  Asenith's  side, 
and  said  in  a  tone  of  anguish  : 

"Oh,  Aunt  Sene,  if  South  Carolina 
secedes  there  will  be  war.  We  shall  be 
separated  from  the  North,  from  all 
that  I  love  in  the  world  ! " 


"Not  from  all,"  murmured  the 
Quakeress,  stroking  her  hair  fondly  ; 
"Ah,  thee  has  a  true  woman's  heart, 
for  all  thy  waywardness.  Does  Nor- 
ton still  persist  in  grieving  thee  so?" 

"  It  is  not  papa, "  she  sobbed,  ' '  'tis 
Claude.  Yes,  Claude  !  "  she  added 
passionately ;  ' '  what  have  I  done  that 
he  should  persecute  me  so  ? " 

"  He's  like  the  dog  in  the  man- 
ger," said  Miss  Matilda,"  entering 
the  room  suddenly,  and  overhearing 
her  niece's  last  words  ;  ' '  He's  like  a 
particularly  surly  dog,  too — wont 
take  you  himself  nor  let  any  one  else 
have  you  ! " 

Miss  Holmes  looked  up  frowning- 
ly,  vexed  and  ashamed  that  Miss 
Matilda  should  have  seen  her  tears. 
"What  is  the  matter  with  Claude 
now  ? "  she  asked,  as  if  she  had  never 
entertained  a  thought  of  anger  against 
him. 

"The  matter  with  Claude !"  echoed 
Miss  Matilda  excitedly,  "why,  good 
gracious,  haven't  I  told  you  a  dozen 
times  before  that  his  blood  is  the  es- 
sence of  iron,  his  heart  is  a  flint- 
stone.  As  for  soul,  he  has  none, 
and  not  as  much  sense  as  the  horse 
he  rides,  or  a  hundredth  part  as  much 
as  the  one  Balaam  rode. " 

' '  That  was  an  ass, "  corrected  Miss 
Holmes,  smiling  in  spite  of  herself. 
Miss  Matilda  looked  somewhat 
abashed,  but  swiftly  rallied,  saying  : 
"Well,  if  'twas  an  ass,  it's  all  the 
more  fit  to  be  spoken  of  in  connec- 
tion with  Claude  ! " 

' '  Thee  knows  I  came  here  to  speak 
with  Adela,"  said  Asenith,  quietly, 
"And  if  thee  would  leave  us  alone 
for  ten  minutes,  I  should  be  greatly 
obliged  to  thee. " 

"You're  learning  to  be  polite  in 


In  Bonds. 


105 


your  old  age  !  "  retorted  Miss  Matil- 
da, leaving  the  room,  however,  and 
closing  the  door  carefully. 

' '  I  am  very  sorry  that  thee  is  in 
trouble,"  said  Asenith,  turning  to- 
ward Miss  Holmes  with  a  comforting 
smile;  "I  am  very  sorry  for  thee, 
dear  child  ;  but  I  came  to  talk  to 
thee  of  one  that  has  more  trouble 
than  thee  has  ever  dreamed  of. '" 

Miss  Holmes  looked  at  her  in- 
quiringly. 

' '  Thee  has  never  refused  help  to 
the  needy  when  I  came  to  thee  for 
it,"  said  the  Quakeress,  "and  thee 
has  always  known  how  to  give  with- 
out offering  offense  at  the  same 
time. " 

' '  I  have  plenty  of  money  just  now, 
Aunt  Sene,"  returned  Miss  Holmes, 
readily,  and  rising  to  leave  the  room, 
1 '  How  much  do  you  want  ? " 

"None  just  at  present,  Adela  ; 
don't  leave  the  room,  for  I  want  what 
thee  has  been  always  equally  ready  to 
give." 

' '  And  what  is  that,  Aunt  Sene  ? " 

' '  True  sympathy  and  tender  coun- 
sel for  one  in  affliction  ;  I  want  thy 
pity  for  thy  slave  Rita. '' 

Miss  Holmes'  face  darkened,  but 
she  answered  readily  :  ' '  Why  do  you 
ask  that  ? " 

"Adela,  if  thee  knew  her  story." 

"  I  do  know  it, "  she  said,  excitedly  ; 
"Will.  Russell  told  me,  too,  that 
ever}'  word  was  true,  and  he  told  me 
more  than  you  perhaps  know — he 
told  me  who  the  lover  was  that  be- 
trayed her." 

' '  And  we  know  him  ? "  cried  Ase- 
nith, in  surprise. 

' '  Ah,  yes,  we  know  him  well.  It 
was  Claude  Leveredge  that  taught 
that  woman  to  feign  madness,  to 
14 


come  here  and  bring  disgrace  upon 
our  family.  Claude,  you  know,  has 
alienated  himself;  nothing  can  affect 
him,  and  he  scruples  not  to  use  any 
means  to  fulfill  his  threats  and  hum- 
ble my  pride. " 

The  Quakeress  listened  in  amaze- 
ment as  Miss  Holmes  poured  forth 
her  convictions,  thinking  to  herself : 
' '  If  the  poor  girl  had  only  told  me 
it  was  Claude  I  might  have  saved  her, 
but  that  reticence  is  only  another 
proof  to  Adela  of  the  baseness  of  her 
motives. " 

In  her  gentle  voice  she  urged  every 
excuse  and  justification  of  her  silence 
which  she  could,  in  the  excitement  ot 
her  feelings,  bring  to  bear  upon  the 
the  case.  But  nothing  that  she  could 
say  was  noticed  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree, and  Asenith  Bray  knew  that  her 
mission  was  fruitless,  and  that  she 
had  only  increased  the  anger  and  sus- 
picions of  Miss  Holmes  against  the 
woman  she  had  hoped  to  defend. 

"I  don't  know  how  thee  would 
ever  imagine  such  things,"  she  said 
at  last,  looking  at  the  young  girl  in 
blank  amazement.  ' '  I  believe  thee 
is  all  wrong,  Adela;  Claude  is  no 
fool  to  wish  to  mortify  and  disgust 
thee  by  such  conduct,  nor  malicious 
enough  to  revenge  himself  upon  thee 
for  withholding  a  love  which,  by  thy 
own  showing,  he  never  truly  desired. " 

' '  I  didn't  say  that  he  never  wish- 
ed me  to  love  him,"  replied  Miss 
Holmes,  as  sullenly  as  her  piquant 
nature  would  permit  her  to  speak. 

"But  he  never  wanted  to  marry 
thee,"  persisted  Asenith,  "and  thy 
refusal  to  gratify  his  vanity  by  giving 
him  unsought  love  would  never  have 
led  him  to  insult  thee  so. " 

' '  '  His  blood   is  the  essence  ot 


io6 


In  Bonds. 


iron,  his  heart  is  a  flint  stone, ' "  re- 
turned Miss  Holmes,  musingly  re- 
peating her  Aunt  Matilda's  words. 

' '  And  thee  has  been  said  to  resem- 
ble him,"  said  Asenith reprovingly. 

Miss  Holmes  colored  to  the  tem- 
ples, crying  vehemently  :  ' '  She  shall 
have  cause  to  think  so;  she  shall 
know  it,  for  I  hate  that  woman  ;  I 
hate  and  despise  her  a  thousand 
times  worse  than  I  do  Claude  him- 
self, for  he  is  a  master  mind,  while 
she  is  but  a  base  tool !  " 

Asenith  felt  it  would  be  useless  to 
say  more,  and  so  arose  and  went 
grieving  away,  passing  a  child  at  the 
gate  whom  she  stopped  and  kissed, 
leaving  a  benediction  upon  him,  and 
taking  from  his  lips  one  word  of 
comfort,  for  he  said  in  answer  to  her 
question  : 

"Yes,  Miss  Adda  loves  me." 

CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Despair  it  was  come,  and  she  thought  it  content ; 
She  thought  it  content,  but  her  cheek  it  grew  pale, 
And  she   droop'd  like  a  lily    broke   down    by   the 
hail." 

Sir  W.  Scott. 

LA  GUERITA  DECUBA  knew  not 
that  Asenith  Bray  had  appealed  to 
Miss  Holmes  in  her  behalf,  or  even 
that  she  had  visited  Holmsford  at  all, 
and  through  the  long  winter  she  had 
no  opportunityk  of  meeting  the  Qua- 
keress again,  for  she  quickly  notic- 
ed that  Miss  Holmes  utterly  prevent- 
ed her  from  leaving  the  plantation, 
or  having  any  intercourse  with  any 
one  beyond  its  limits. 

Not  that  she  desired  any,  for  still 
her  mind  remained  incapable  of  any 
new  emotions — deadened  it  seemed 
by  all  that  had  swept  over  it  before. 
She  was  fully  engrossed  in  her  dull 


routine  of  duties,  and  even  when 
some  word  or  deed  of  her  hard  task- 
mistress  forced  her  heart  to  bleed,  it 
did  not  rebel ;  all  strength  of  resist- 
ance seemed  gone  forever. 

There  were  two  things  that  reached 
her  sensibilities,  dead  though  they 
seemed.  One  was  the  strange,  pro- 
tecting love  Miss  Holmes  devoted  to 
Harold — a  pure  love,  not  exhibited 
to  give  the  mother  pain,  but  for  the 
boy's  sweet  sake ;  the  other  was  the 
tender  sympathy  of  her  fellow  slaves 
— they  did  not  understand,  but  they 
pitied  her. 

The  enmity  of  Miss  Holmes  to- 
ward her  was  often  the  subject  of 
conversation  in  the  cabins,  and  often 
Aunt  Dilsey  would  gravely  shake  her 
head  and  say  : 

"A  queer  critter  is  Rita;  I'll  jist 
tell  yer  what  she  makes  me  think 
on. " 

"Law,  now,  what  kin  it  be?" 
Aunt  'Mandy  would  ask  as  eagerly  as 
if  she  had  not  heard  the  sage  opinion 
twenty  times  before. 

"Why,  she's  jist  like  my  young 
Missie  Nina  used  to  wus  ;  looks  jis 
as  she  would  when  she  'd  git  up  in 
de  middle  ob  de  night  and  walk 
about,  fas'  asleep  all  de  time,  and  wid 
her  eyes  wide  open  like  a  owl's. 
Rita's  jist  got  dat  los'  look  'pon  her 
face,  and  'pears  jis  as  if  she  wus  a 
walkin'  about  among  us  fas'  asleep, 
awaitin'  to  be  woked  up. " 

"  O  Lor' !  "  Aunt  'Mandy  would 
exclaim,  her  eyes  wildly  staring,  as  if 
she  were  listening  to  the  latest  ghost 
story. 

"Tumble  things  them  walkin's is, 
too, "  would  Aunt  Dilsey  continue, 
shaking  her  head  wisely.  ' '  I've  seen 
my  missus  go  right  inter  convulu- 


In  Bonds. 


107 


tions  when  she's  been  suddenly  wok- 
ed  up,  and  that's  de  way  we'll  see  dat 
Rita  sometime  if  Miss  Addie  keeps 
on  wid  her  so.  'Taint  in  natur  fur 
her  to  sleep  foreber. " 

But  the  spring  time  brought  no 
signs  of  awakening.  Still  Mrs. 
Holmes'  querulous  complaints  ;  the 
petty  tyranny  of  Rufus  ;  Miss  Matil- 
da's sharp  speeches,  and  the  constant 
persecutions  of  the  niece — all  failed  to 
arouse  more  than  a  momentary  thrill 
of  anger.  Nay,  the  portentous  tid- 
ings of  disruption  and  war  that  filled 
every  other  heart  with  ambition,  an- 
ger, or  dismay,  had  no  effect  upon 
her.  But  she  could  not  fail  to  remark 
that  Miss  Holmes  each  day  grew  more 
irritable  and  more  sad ;  but  it  was 
not  for  some  weeks  that  she  learned 
the  cause  of  this  extreme  depression. 

Miss  Holmes  had  been  in  the  gar- 
den all  day,  giving  orders  to  the  serv- 
ants who  were  employed  in  trim- 
ming vines,  tying  up  rose  bushes, 
and  preparing  the  garden  for  the 
wealth  of  bloom  that  was  already 
bursting  over  it.  She  called  to  La 
Guerita  as  she  left  the  school-room, 
to  give  her  some  orders  concerning  a 
difficult  piece  of  needle-work  upon 
which  she  was  engaged,  but  had 
spoken  only  a  few  words  when  Mr. 
Holmes  and  Mr.  Gordon  rode  up  to 
the  gate. 

"How  d'ye  do,  Miss  Addie," 
cried  the  lawyer;  "you're  looking 
as  fresh  and  blooming  as  one  of  your 
own  roses,  and  I've  brought  you 
some  news  that  will  make  your  eyes 
dance  so  that  you'll  look  better  still. " 

La  Guerita  noticed  that  Miss 
Holmes  suddenly  grew  as  white  as 
the  robe  she  wore,  and  that  her 
hands  trembled  so  that  her  garden- 


ing tools  fell  to  her  feet.  ' '  Oh,  Mr. 
Gordon,"  she  cried,  in  accents  al- 
most imploring,  "the  State  has  not 
seceded?  Oh,  tell  me,  papa,  the 
State  has  not  seceded  !  " 

"lam  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  state 
anything  that  is  not  agreeable  to  you, 
Miss  Adela, "  said  Mr.  Gordon,  gal- 
lantly, ' '  but  the  long-expected — not 
to  say  joyful — news  has  come  at  last 
North  Carolina  has  joined  the  South- 
ern Confederacy. " 

Miss  Holmes  wrung  her  hands  as 
if  in  almost  unendurable  anguish. 

' '  You  know  we  have  been  expect- 
ing this  ever  since  the  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Legislature  was  called," 
said  her  father,  almost  timidly. 

' t  Governor  Ellis  is  a  traitor, "  she 
replied,  passionately,  "or  he  never 
would  have  called  it. " 

' '  For  your  father's  sake,  if  not  for 
your  own,  I  should  think  it  would  be 
best  for  you  to  restrain,  if  not  to  mod- 
ify, your  opinions, "  said  Mr.  Gordon, 
coolly. 

' '  Nothing  will  ever  make  me  mod- 
ify my  opinions,"  she  cried,  in  the 
same  passionate  voice,  and  stamping 
her  foot  upon  the  ground  to  empha- 
size her  words.  ' '  I  may  never  again 
be  able  to  say  so  publicly,  but  I  now 
say,  that  our  State  has  now  devoted 
herself  to  infamy  that  all  the  blood  of 
her  sons  will  be  insufficient  to  wash 
away !  " 

Mr.  Holmes  looked  at  his  daugh- 
ter, quite  appalled  by  her  words  and 
manner,  while  Mr.  Gordon  laughed 
slightly,  saying  :  "I  am  not  surpris- 
ed at  your  sentiments,  Miss  Adela ; 
you  have  so  many  friends  in  the 
North,  you  know." 

She  colored,  turning  away,  yet  say- 
ing, defiantly  :  "  It  would  be  the  same 


io8 


In  Bonds. 


if  I  had  not  one.  I  love  my  country, 
not  my  friends  !  " 

"I've  promised  myself  a  long  ar- 
gument with  you  after  dinner/'  ut- 
tered the  lawyer,  with  imperturbable 
coolness.  ' '  But,  bless  me,  whom 
have  we  here  ?  What — Urn — Um — 
what's  the .  name  ?  Rita !  Strange 
I  should  have  forgotten  it.  And  how 
well  you  look  ;  how  much  you  have 
improved.  Holmsford  agrees  with 
you,  eh?" 

Without  knowing  wherefore,  La 
Guerita  felt  her  very  soul  sicken  as 
this  man  cast  his  keen  eyes  upon  her. 
She  stammered  out  a  few  words  and 
turned  away ;  and  without  seeming  to 
notice  her  manner,  Mr.  Gordon  rode 
on  to  the  house  with  Mr.  Holmes, 
and  Miss  Adela  looked  after  them, 
and,  forgetting  the  presence  of  her 
slave,  moaned  out :  ' '  We  need  hope 
no  more  ;  our  separation  will  be  for- 
ever !  " 

1 '  Miss  Addie's  right  smart  cut  up 
'bout  de  news,  shuh, "  said  one  of  the 
men  when  his  mistress  had  passed 
out  of  hearing.  ' '  Tears  to  me  de 
poor  ting  is  nigh  distracted  at  de  tort 
of  war  ;  she's  as  tender-hearted  as  a 
lamb,  bress  her." 

"All  I  know  is,"  said  his  com- 
panion, "if  dere's  gwine  to  be  a 
war,  I  hope  'twon't  stop  'till  Massa 
Linkum  gits  what  he's  tryin'  fur  ; 
tho'  I  reckon  he's  like  all  de  oder 
quality,  an'  don't  think  much  ob  de 
nigs  any  way.  But,  Lor'  bress  us, 
de  squire  says  de  Yankees  won't 
fight,  an'  it'll  all  be  ober  in  a  month 
or  two  anyway. " 

"  I'd  sooner  b'lieve  Miss  Addie," 
said  the  first  speaker,  "an'  I  know 
by  her  grievin'  face  dat  dare's  heaps 
ob  trouble  ahead. " 


A  new  light  at  that  moment  seem- 
ed to  fall  upon  La  Guerita's  mind 
when  she  heard  those  words  :  ' '  Our 
separation  will  be  forever. "  This  war, 
then,  the  rumors  of  which  had  not 
excited  her  in  the  remotest  degree, 
was  to  raise  a  bulwark  between  the 
North  and  the  South — the  very  na- 
tion was  to  arise  to  make  her  bond- 
age more  secure.  Some  dim  sense 
of  loneliness  came  over  her.  She 
experienced  that  feeling  of  desola- 
tion to  which  the  veriest  misanthrope 
— hating  all  his  kind — might  awaken 
were  he  thrown  upon  some  desolate 
shore.  Suddenly  she  felt  utterly  for- 
saken. Although  she  had  never 
dreamed  of  availing  herself  of  it, 
there  had  been  one  way  of  escape 
open  to  her;  but  now  it  was  closed — 
closed  forever. 

And  she  learnt  from  those  few  pas- 
sionate words  the  secret  of  Miss  Ade- 
la's  deep  sadness  too,  and,  strange 
to  say,  she  felt  no  triumph,  no  glad- 
ness, in  knowing  that  her  enemy  lov- 
ed in  vain.  Her  womanly  sympathy 
was  even  faintly  aroused,  and  she 
pitied  her,  watching  every  change 
thereafter  with  a  solicitude  that  would 
have  driven  Miss  Holmes  to  the  verge 
of  desperation  had  she  known  of  it. 

Mr.  Gordon  passed  the  night  at 
Holmsford,  and  in  the  morning 
strolled  carelessly  into  the  school- 
room. But  La  Guerita  was  perfect- 
ly conscious  with  what  eager  scrutiny 
he  regarded  her,  and  something  like 
pride  awoke  in  her  breast  as  she  no- 
ticed how  purposely  he  addressed  her 
as  a  pampered  servant,  and  strove  to 
discover  whether  she  remembered  that 
she  had  been  aught  beside. 

But  he  could  not  rouse  her,  or  pro- 
duce any  impression  upon  the  slowly 


In  Bonds. 


109 


awakening  mind ;  and  all  that  he 
found  to  wonder  at  was  the  air  in 
which  La  Guerita  owned  herself  a 
slave,  and  yet  proclaimed  herself  a 
mistress,  and  how  completely  the 
children  —  even  Rufus  —  recognized 
both  characters. 

"Well,  well/'  he  muttered,  as  he 
left  the  school-room,  ' '  she  is  really 
a  most  wonderful  creature ;  not  but 
that  all  women  play,  in  turn,  the 
characters  of  slave  and  mistress. 
Heaven  knows  they're  all  slaves  as 
soon  as  they're  mothers,  and  often  as 
soon  as  they  become  wives  ;  but  that 
doesn't  establish  a  precedent  for  this 
case.  There's  something  more  in 
that  woman  than  any  of  us  can  un- 
derstand. " 

This  remark  he  repeated  to  Mr. 
Holmes  during  the  afternoon,  as  they 
sat  on  the  piazza  smoking.  ' '  Women 
all  make  themselves  slaves,  sir — all," 
he  affirmed,  knocking  the  feathery 
ashes  from  the  end  of  his  cigar  ; 
' '  but  all  do  not  succumb  so  readily 
to  their  fate  as  this  one  has  done,  and 
she  absolutely  seems  contented  with 
her  lot." 

Mr.  Holmes  had  heard  Aunt  Dil- 
sey's  opinion,  a^id  quoted  it,  to  the 
great  amusement  of  the  lawyer. 

' '  Well,  well, "  continued  the  plant- 
er, impatiently,  "  I  may  as  well  own 
that  there  's  a  look  upon  Rita's  face 
that  I  don't  like.  Aunt  Matilda  said 
one  day  she  was  like  a  dead  woman 
set  on  springs ;  and,  indeed,  she  does 
seem  incapable  of  motion ;  her  very 
quiet  and  content  renders  me  un- 
easy, though  I  dread  the  wearing 
away  of  that  horrible  indifference, 
lest,  with  animation,  a  desire  for  free- 
dom should  come. 

The  lawyer  looked  at  the  speaker 


keenly.  "You  know  you  were  a 
little  doubtful  of  the  justice  and  le- 
gality of  enslaving  her, "  he  said ; 
' '  so,  if  she  should  fret  in  her  bonds, 
you  have  only  to  go  back  to  your 
original  feelings,  and  set  her  adrift. " 

' '  It's  all  very  well  to  talk  of  going 
back  to  one's  original  feelings,"  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Holmes,  impatiently, 
"but  how  am  I  to  do  it?  You 
know  the  Holmes'  have  been  slave- 
holders for  generations  past,  and  just 
at  this  crisis,  as  you  remarked  yes- 
terday, one  cannot  afford  to  cast  a 
slur  upon  the  old  faith.  Now,  as 
I've  taken  my  stand  with  the  South, 
I  am  bound  to  do  nothing  to  weaken 
its  cause,  even  to  my  own  mind  which 
I  should  do  if  I  freed  Rita — but, 
pshaw,  what  need  is  there  for  me  to 
think  of  such  a  thing  ?  She  is  per- 
fectly contented  now,  and  may  al- 
ways remain  so,  but  still  I  always  feel 
as  that  fellow  did  who  had  the  sword 
suspended  by  a  hair  over  his  head. " 

Mr.  Gordon  smiled.  ' '  She  came 
to  you  a  free  agent, "  he  said. 

' '  You're  right, "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Holmes,  eagerly.  ' '  I  am  sure  I  tried 
to  dissuade  her  from  taking  such  a 
decisive  step,  but  she  would'nt  listen, 
and  now  that  she's  here  I  find  her 
uncommonly  useful.  And  if  awaken- 
ing from  this  sleep  is  going  to  make 
her  restive  and  unhappy,  I  hope  her 
nap  will  be  prolonged  for  many  a 
year.  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what 
we  should  do  without  her,  she  is  the 
only  one  that  could  ever  manage 
Rufe  ;  Myra  would  go  wild  if  she 
were  to  leave. " 

' '  I  don't  understand  why  you  are 
apprehensive  of  losing  her, "  said  Mr. 
Gordon.  "She  seems  quiet  enough 
now.  There  is  no  lurking  devil  in 


no 


In  Bonds. 


her  eyes  that  I  can  see  ;  I  should 
tremble  for  your  Adela  if  there  was. 
I've  only  seen  them  together  once  or 
twice,  but  I  can  see  that  the  little 
lady  hates  her  most  thoroughly. " 

' '  That  vexes  me  more  than  any- 
thing else, "  cried  Mr.  Holmes,  testily. 
"I  believe  it's  true,  Gordon,  that  Ade- 
la positively  hates  the  poor  woman, 
and,  strangely  enough,  as  positively 
adores  her  child.  She  has  taken  it 
into  her  head  that  he  is  a  poor  little 
martyr,  sacrificed  to  the  evil  desires 
of  a  wricked  and  unnatural  mother/' 

' '  What  can  be  the  reason  of  her 
hatred  ?"  asked  Mr.  Gordon  ;  ' '  Ade- 
la is  not  one  to  act  without  a  mo- 
tive. " 

' '  Oh,  doubtless,  because  she  has 
made  herself  a  living  proof  of  the 
fallacy  of  the  opinions  she  has  so  long 
held  regarding  slavery.  You  know 
how  at  one  time  she  shook  even  my 
faith  with  her  arguments.  You  know 
Addie  is  not  likely  to  forgive  any  one 
for  forcing  her  to  yield  her  opinions, 
and  she  positively  has  not  been  her 
real  self  since  that  girl  came. " 

' '  But  there  may  be  other  reasons 
for  the  change  in  Adela, "  suggested 
Mr.  Gordon  ;  ' '  reasons  entirely  un- 
connected with  Rita. " 

' '  I  know  what  you  mean, "  return- 
ed Mr.  Holmes,  gloomily ;  ' '  and  I 
declare  I  sometimes  am  half  inclined 
to  reproach  myself  for  having  listened 
to  Claude,  for  Addie  might  have  been 
happily  married  long  before  this  if  I 
had'nt. " 

"And  in  the  North,"  added  Mr. 
Gordon. 

"Damn  the  North!"  ejaculated 
Mr.  Holmes. 

' '  With  all  my  heart  !  In  fact  we 
mean  to  do  it !"  returned  the  lawyer, 


smiling.  "  It  is  a  pity  your  daughter 
does  not  see  the  advisability  of  such 
a  course  as  clearly  as  you  do. " 

"She  will  have  to  see  it  !  "  mut- 
tered Mr.  Holmes.  "We  have  gone 
with  the  South,  and  it  is  utterly  use- 
less for  her  to  cry  out  against  it.  I 
used  to  be  proud  of  her  because  she 
was  unlike  other  girls,  but  now  I 
wish  to  heaven  she'd  be  a  little  more 
like  them.  Any  other  girl  would 
have  forgotten  that  Yankee  fellow 
months  ago." 

"We  must  try  to  replace  him," 
said  Mr.  Gordon  coolly.  ' '  There 
are  plenty  of  fine  young  fellows  here 
she  might  choose  from. " 

"Plenty  !"  said  Mr.  Holmes,  des- 
pondently. 

"  But  she  won't  look  at  them. 
Now,  there's  Burton  Elwood  ;  what 
rational  girl  would  object  to  him, 
and  Will.  Russell  too,  who  is  abso- 
lutely mad  about  her. " 

' '  That's  the  man  for  us  !"  exclaim- 
ed Mr.  Gordon,  decidedly.  "One 
of  the  wealthiest  families  in  the  State. 
Secessionist  from  the  start.  It  would 
help  you  wonderfully  if  you  could 
gain  a  connection  with  that  family. 
You  know  you  laid  yourself  open  to 
suspicion  by  opposing  the  Conven- 
tion, and  Adela's  avowed  Unionism 
won't  allow  it  to  die  out.  But  bless 
you,  if  she  was  married  to  Will,  she 
might  talk  Abolitionism  to  the  end 
of  her  days,  and  nobody  would  think 
it  anything  but  a  good  joke. " 

"Well,  well,"  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
uneasily:  "we  must  talk  of  that 
some  other  time.  One  scarcely 
knows  what  to  do  or  say.  I  should 
like  to  know  what  Leveredge  is  doing 
in  Europe  all  this  time. " 

Mr.  Gordon  shrugged  his  shoul- 


In  Bonds. 


in 


ders  and  looked  wise.  ' '  I  sent  him 
some  heavy  drafts  last  week/'  he  re- 
marked, ' '  and  I  don't  altogether 
like  what  I  hear  about  him.  Putting 
aside  that  other  story, — which  I  con- 
sider ridiculous — they  say  he  is  play- 
ing like  a  madman,  and  is  keeping 
up  the  finest  establishment  in  the 
Quartier. " 

Mr.  Holmes  frowned,  and  said  : 
"  He  can  do  as  he  likes  with  his 
money  of  course  ;  but  if  that  other 
tale  should  be  true,  I'd  never  forgive 
him." 

Mr.  Gordon  laughed.  "  Claude 
is  wild,  but  not  a  fool  !  Bah,  he  has 
an  eye  to  charms  more  solid  than  a 
pretty  face." 

"Well,  well,  I  wish  he'd  come 
home  !"  said  Mr.  Holmes  with  a 
sigh.  * '  He  surely  will  come  when 
the  country  is  in  such  peril." 

Mr.  Gordon  shrugged  his  shoul- 
ders doubtfully. 

Mr.  Holmes,  though  secretly  in- 
dignant, affected  not  to  notice  the 
action,  but  said  quietly  :  ' '  Claude's 
not  a  man  to  shrink  from  danger, 
and  Til  wager  if  there's  any  fighting 
to  be  done  he'll  be  foremost  in  the 
fray." 

' '  There  seems  to  be  some  fighting 
on  hand  now,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Gor- 
don, starting  to  his  feet,  and  hasten- 
ing to  trje  steps  of  the  piazza  ;  ' '  what 
the  deuce  is  the  matter." 

Something  unusual  certainly,  for 
La  Guerita  was  standing  near  the 
school-room  door  with  Harold  in  her 
arms,  confronting  Miss  Matilda,  like 
an  enraged  tigress. 

' '  How  dared  you  touch  my  child  ?" 
they  heard  her  explain  in  shrill,  pas- 
sionate tones.  ' '  No  one  shall  touch 
my  child.  Hush,  hush,  don't  cry, 


my  darling,  mamma  is  here  ;  no 
one  shall  whip  you  again.  There, 
there,  there,  don't  cry." 

' '  A  pretty  way  that  for  you  to  allow 
your  niggers  to  speak,"  cried  Miss 
Matilda,  turning  to  Mr.  Holmes. 
' '  Pretty  discipline  you've  got  on  this 
plantation  when  one's  life  is  in  dan- 
ger for  touching  a  brat  like  that. 
Just  wait  till  I  get  hold  of  you" — 
turning  to  Harold — "  and  I'll  shake 
you  well. " 

"  No  you  wont,"  returned  La 
Guerita,  her  eyes  flashing  with  pas- 
sion ;  "you  shall  never  touch  my 
child  again.  No  one  shall  touch 
him.  I  will  protect  my  boy  as  long 
as  I  live." 

' '  What  is  the  reason  of  this  ? "  de- 
manded Miss  Holmes,  appearing 
upon  the  scene;  "Aunt  Matilda, 
what  occasioned  this  ? " 

"Why,  I  was  going  from  the 
house  to  the  kitchen, "  she  answered, 
when  I  caught  sight  of  this  young 
vagabond  a  spading  up  the  sod  under 
the  white  rose  bush. 

' '  What  are  you  doing  there  ? "  I 
asked,  as  gently  as  you  please. 

"I'm  going  to  bury  my  bird," 
said  he,  as  bold  as  possible,  holding 
up  a  little  no-account  thing. 

"'Twasn't  a  little  no-account 
thing,"  sobbed  Harold,  "'twas  a 
pretty  little  pet  bird. " 

' '  That's  just  what  he  would  keep 
on  a  sayin'  before,"  remarked  Miss 
Matilda,  in  an  aggrieved  tone ;  ' '  that's 
just  what  he  said  before,  and  just  be- 
cause I  threw  it  over  the  fence  he 
burst  out  cryin'  as  if  his  heart  would 
break.  'Twas  passion — passion  every 
bit  of  it,  and  I  just  gave  him  a  poke 
with  my  stick  to  make  him  be  still, 
when  out  flies  his  mother  as  if  she 


112 


In   Bonds. 


would  kill  me.  I'd  like  to  know 
what  you  expect  is  to  become  of  you 
and  yours,  Norton  Holmes,  if  you 
let  things  go  on  at  this  rate.  Every- 
thing's going  to  wreck  and  ruin  any- 
how !  All  I  can  say  is,  I  wont  stand 
it,  and  if  you  don't  correct  that  child, 
and  all  the  rest  of  them,  I  will. " 

La  Guerita,  who  had  seemingly 
become  conscious  that  she  had  ex- 
hibited uncalled-for  passion,  here  ex- 
cused herself  to  the  spectators,  and 
hurled  defiance  at  Miss  Matilda  in 
the  words  :  "I  will  protect  my  child  ; 
I  must  protect  my  child." 

' '  You  have  no  power  to  do  any- 
thing of  the  sort,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
firmly  ;  "  You  are  a  slave,  and  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  government 
of  even  your  own  child. " 

La  Guerita  turned  toward  her 
fiercely,  but  met  a  scornful,  com- 
manding glance  that  made  her  quail. 

' '  Go  to  the  school-room, "  contin- 
ued her  mistress,  in  measured  tones, 
' '  and  leave  the  child  to  me. " 

La  Guerita  knew  that  he  would  be 
safe,  yet  for  a  moment  she  hesitated. 
Was  it  true  that  she,  his  mother,  had 
no  right  to  protect  or  correct  him  ? 

Another  word  from  Miss  Holmes 
recalled  her  to  herself,  and  she  did  as 
commanded,  passively,  unconsciously 
casting  upon  Mr.  Gordon  a  look  that 
haunted  him  for  days. 

"That  slumbering  devil  awoke 
and  looked  out  of  her  eyes  then, "  he 
muttered  an  hour  afterward,  as  he 
sat  alone  with  Miss  Matilda  on  the 
shaded  piazza,  while  the  old  lady 
thought  exultantly:  "She  grasped 
her  nettle  then!"  "But  if  I  was 
Norton, "  she  added  aloud,  ' '  I'd  sell 
that  boy  as  sure  as  fate. " 

"What,  Rita's?"  asked  Mr.  Gor- 


don, with  a  laugh,  ' '  What's  the 
matter  with  him  ? " 

' '  The  Lord  only  knows  what  isn't 
the  matter  with  him,"  retorted  Miss 
Matilda,  in  a  tone  of  virtuous  indig- 
nation ;  "  He  is  the  triflin'est,  most 
aggravatin'  child  that  ever  was  born. 
'Twould  be  a  mercy  if  he'd  die,  for 
if  he  lives  he'll  surely  be  shot  or 
hung,  whichever  is  most  convenient. 
I  declare  he  makes  me  tremble  for 
the  family's  good  name.  If  you'll 
believe  me  'twas  only  the  other  day 
I  sent  Roxy  to  Foustville  on  an  er- 
rand, and  she  of  course  must  needs 
take  Master  Harry  with  her.  Well, 
as  she  was  walkin'  down  the  street, 
along  came  a  gentleman  that  could 
not  keep  his  eyes  off  the  boy.  '  Who's 
child  is  that  ? '  said  he.  '  Massa  Nor- 
ton Holmes'/  said  she.  'Indeed,' 
said  he,  '  I  thought  his  face  was  fa- 
miliar ;  I  used  to  know  your  master 
years  ago. '  And  then  he  went  into 
ecstasies  about  the  boy's  beauty,  and 
took  him  into  a  candy  store  and 
loaded  him  with  sweets  and  toys.  I 
never  felt  so  ashamed  in  my  life  as 
when  Norton  came  home  and  told 
the  story,  and  laughed  as  a  good  joke, 
too.  I  just  told  Myra  my  mind  then. 
It's  a  disgrace  to  have  him  about 
the  place ;  besides  that,  he's  such  a 
little  imp  that  he's  always  getting  into 
mischief.  I'd  sell  him  just  as  sure  as 
fate. " 

Mr.  Gordon  laughed  a't  the  story, 
and  could  not  help  reverting  to  it 
with  much  inward  amusement  as  he 
rode  homeward  in  the  dusk  of  the 
evening.  "But  I'm  puzzled,  puz- 
zled. What  did  that  act  of  self-en- 
slavement mean  ?  Was  she  mad,  or 
as  Adela  thinks,  only  carrying  out 
some  deep-laid  plot  ?  By  Jove  !  that 


In  Bonds. 


look  on  her  face  to-day  was  enough 
to  make  one  tremble.  I  can't'  see 
through  it.  I'll  go  back  next  week 
and  watch  that  woman  ;  her  face  is 
worth  studying.  Heavens  !  what  a 
beautiful  face  it  is  in  repose — what  a 
peerless,  magnificent  face  in  anger  ! 
Holmes  may  well  fear  her  awaken- 
ing. She  is  the  most  queenly  cap- 
tive that  ever  was  chained  to  Slavery's 
triumphant  car.  Heigh  ho  !  A  few- 
month's  later  we  shall  see.  But  I'm 
puzzled  now  !  I'm  puzzled  ! " 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

"  There  is  a  power  in  the  strength  of  love ; 
'Twill  make  a  thing  endurable,  which  else 
Would  overset  the  brain,  or  break  the  heart." 
Wardnoarlh. 

THERE  was  in  the  house  at  Holms- 
ford  a  small  room  opening  in  from 
the  common  parlor,  and  looking  out 
upon  the  lawn,  the  school-house,  and 
the  negro  cabin.  Before  the  window 
stood  a  sewing  machine,  and  in  the 
center  of  the  apartment  was  a  large 
table,  usually  bestrewn  with  sewing. 
At  this  table  sat  La  Guerita  DeCuba 
one  afternoon,  early  in  the  fall,  bus- 
ily engaged  upon  some  fine  work, 
which  Miss  Holmes,  in  accordance 
with  the  plan  of  keeping  the  white 
slave  ever  toiling,  had  intrusted  to 
her  hands. 

Of  late  La  Guerita  had  grown 
wean-  of  her  endless  tasks,  and  often 
longed  to  cast  them  down.  Toil  was 
not  sufficient  to  keep  her  mind  from 
wandering  to  forbidden  topics,  and 
often  she  felt  a  strange  pleasure  in 
living  over  again  her  by-gone  days  ; 
and,  strangest  of  all,  it  seemed  to  her 
the  sight  of  her  child  often  filled  her 
heart  with  a  burning  pain  ;  she  could 
not  tell  of  what,  for  still  she  was  not 
15 


conscious  of  one  thought  of  wrong 
toward  him.  The  frequent  visits  of 
Mr.  Gordon  had  served  to  disturb 
her  thus.  He  was  ever  coming  at 
unexpected  times,  and  she  knew  it 
was  to  gaze  on* her.  Yet,  though  he 
watched  her  narrowly,  he  found  but 
a  thoughtful  face,  somewhat  less  pla- 
cid at  every  visit,  perhaps,  but  with 
none  of  the  fierce  passion  upon  it 
which  he  almost  expected,  yet  dread- 
ed to  find. 

The  visits  of  the  lawyer  had  a 
strange  effect  upon  her.  They  arous- 
ed in  her  a  dim  sense  of  the  unpre- 
cedented deed  she  had  accomplish- 
ed, and  almost  to  her  horror  she 
found  herself  sometimes  questioning 
herself  why  she  should  have  done 
it,  and  failing  to  find  in  the  words, 
' '  It  is  my  atonement, "  that  com- 
plete satisfaction  that  had  often  si- 
lenced her. 

She  was  thinking  of  these  things, 
in  a  wrandering  way,  as  she  sat  in  the 
sewing-room  that  afternoon,  when 
she  heard  two  persons  enter  the  out- 
er room. 

One  was  Miss  Holmes ;  but  she 
had  assuredly  forgotten  her  seam- 
stress, for  she  made  no  sign  of  ap- 
proaching her,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
took  a  seat  near  the  parlor  table,  tap- 
ped the  marble  nervously  with  her 
finger  nails,  as  she  said  :  "I  am 
so  glad  we  are  in  the  house  alone, 
papa,  for  I  have  something  impor- 
tant to  tell  you. " 

La  Guerita  arose,  and  would  have 
left  the  room,  but  the  only  mode  of 
egress  was  by  the  parlor,  and  she 
knew  by  experience  that  Miss  Holmes 
would  probably  order  her  back  to  her 
unfinished  work  ;  so  she  resumed  her 
seat  and  her  sewing,  as  Mr.  Holmes 


H4 


In  Bonds. 


said,  kindly:  "Well,  Addie,  what  is 
it  ! " 

Miss  Holmes  for  once  seemed  per- 
plexed, for  she  did  not  immediately 
answer,  and  when  she  did,  it  was  in 
a  faltering  tone,  altogether  unnatural 
to  her. 

' '  Dear  papa, "  she  said,  ' '  I  scarce- 
ly know  what  to  say,  but  you  wont  be 
angry  with  me  ? " 

' '  I  am  not  often  angry  with  you, 
daughter/'  returned  her  father,  "but 
I  really  think,  Addie,  unless  you  feel 
sure  of  what  you  wish  to  say,  you 
had  better  put  it  off  until  some  other 
time. " 

"No,"  said  Miss  Holmes,  reso- 
lutely, ' '  I  cannot  do  that.  I  see  you 
half  anticipate  what  I  wish  to  say ; 
but  whatever  it  is,  papa,  I  beg  you  to 
hear  me  patiently. " 

"Certainly." 

' '  And,  oh,  papa,  if  you  would 
only  hear  me  with  sympathy,  too  ! " 

1 '  I  should  be  glad  to  be  able  to  do 
so,  my  dear." 

"First  of  all,  then,  papa,  I  want 
to  know  if  you  really  think  it  wrong 
for  me  to  deplore  the  secession  of  the 
Southern  States,  when  I  can't  help 
thinking  their  course  wrong.  You 
have  seemed  so  angry  with  me  about 
that  lately. " 

' '  Because,  child,  you  have  openly 
shown  your  sympathy  with  the  abo- 
litionists, and  have  actually  rejoiced 
in  their  triumphs,  and  wept  over  their 
reverses. " 

' '  Never  before  you,  papa. " 

"  Adela,  you  cannot  easily  dis- 
guise your  feelings ;  every  one  in  the 
county  knows  what  they  are.  But 
all  that  would  be  nothing,  if  you 
would  only  listen  to  William  Rus- 
sell." 


"Oh,  papa,  don't,  don't!"  ex- 
claimed Miss  Holmes,  pleadingly. 

' '  I  cannot  see  why  I  should  not 
speak  of  it,  Adela  ;  for  you  must  by 
this  time  know  that  no  past  feelings 
can  be  regarded  now,  and  that  you 
should  wish  them  to  be  so  is  prepos- 
terous— unnatural !  " 

' '  Oh,  papa,  you  never  said  that 
before  ! " 

"Didn't  I  ?  Well,  I  have  thought 
so,  and  I  wish  to  hear  nothing  more 
of  them.  I  tell  you,  Adela,  once  for 
all,  if  you  wish  to  retain  my  affec- 
tions you  must  put  away  this  child- 
ish nonsense." 

Miss  Holmes  made  no  response, 
and  La  Guerita,  hoping  to  attract  at- 
tention before  more  private  matters 
were  discussed,  dropped  her  scissors 
upon  the  table  ;  but  at  the  same  mo- 
ment Miss  Holmes  spoke. 

' '  Papa, "  she  said,  ' '  I  must  speak, 
though  you  have  endeavored  to  show 
me  that  it  will  be  of  no  avail.  But 
I  must  speak  to  you,  because  I  have 
received  this  note." 

She  took  from  her  pocket  a  sealed 
letter,  and  passing  it  gently  through 
her  fingers,  handed  it  to  her  father, 
saying  :  ' '  Will  you  allow  me  to  open 
it?" 

He  took  the  proffered  missive, 
frowning  darkly  as  he  looked  at  it 
carefully. 

"I  see  you  have  kept  your  prom- 
ise," he  said  at  length  ;  "not  that  I 
ever  doubted  that  you  would  do  so. " 

Mr.  Holmes  paced  the  room  in 
deep  thought  for  a  few  moments.  At 
length  he  paused  before  Adela,  and 
said  :  "Adela,  I  tell  you  now,  that 
all  I  said  two  years  ago  I  shall  main- 
tain to-day.  I  should  still  do  so  if 
all  Claude  Leveredge's  words  were 


In  Bonds. 


disproved.  You  shall  never,  with 
my  consent,  demean  yourself  so  low 
as  to  become  the  wife  of  even  the  best 
of  that  accursed  race. " 

' '  Papa,  may  I  read  that  letter  ?  " 

Mr.  Holmes  hesitated,  but  he  had 
an  uncontrollable  curiosity,  such  as 
often  characterizes  weak  men  as  well 
as  women,  and  half  relenting  before 
his  daughter's  beseeching  eyes,  said  : 
"We  will  think  of  it,  Adela — we 
will  think  of  it." 

Her  suspicious  nature  took  alarm  ; 
she  thought  he  meant  to  tamper  with 
her,  and  starting  to  her  feet,  exclaim- 
ed, passionately:  "Papa,  if  you  de- 
stroy that  letter  I  will  never  forgive 
you  as  long  as  I  live  !  " 

' '  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  you 
are  my  daughter,"  returned  Mr. 
Holmes,  sullenly;  "you  are  no 
more  like  the  Adela  of  old  than  Ru- 
ms is  like  Alf.  Confound  this  fel- 
low ;  it  i§  he  that  has  changed  you 
so  !  There,  read  the  letter. " 

She  took  it  joyfully,  and  opened  it 
with  trembling  fingers. 

' '  Oh,  papa  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  a 
minute  later,  "  It  is  all  as  I  feared  ! 
He  has  joined  the  Northern  army  ! " 

"Ah!  and  what  else  ?" 

"He  only  begs  me  to  be  con- 
stant. " 

' '  Constant !  By  heaven,  that  is  too 
much.  Now,  then,  Adela,  I  hope  you 
are  satisfied  of  his  love  when  he  has 
taken  up  arms  against  all  your  kin- 
dred. Now,  then,  I  hope  we  shall 
have  no  more  nonsense  of  your  lov- 
ing him  still." 

' '  Oh,  papa,  I  cannot  help  it ;  I  do 
love  him  still  !  I  should  love  him 
still  even  if  he  were  the  villain  Claude 
Leveredge  painted  him.  Ah,  if  he 
were  hanging  on  a  gallows  for  mur- 


der or  treason   I  should    love   him 
still." 

"A  pretty  confession  that  for  a 
lady  to  make,  upon  my  word  !  I 
wonder  what  you  will  say  next  ? 
Perhaps  you  will  want  permission  to 
write  those  words  to  him  ?  " 

' '  Xo,  papa,  not  those,  but  only  a 
single  line  to  tell  him  I  have  received 
his. " 

' '  Adela,  you  shall  not  do  it ! 
Why,  good  God,  child,  putting  aside 
all  personal  feelings  in  the  matter,  do 
you  know  what  jeopardy  you  would 
place  your  whole  family  in  by  such  an 
action  ?  You  are  already  suspected 
and  watched.  Do  you  want  us  all  to 
be  utterly  ruined  ?  Oh,  Adela,  Ade- 
la, it  would  break  my  heart  should 
it  become  known  that  my  daughter, 
whom  I  have  loved  so  dearly^ — ot 
whom  I  have  been  so  proud,  was  a 
traitor  to  her  home  and  friends.  No, 
Adela,  you  must  not  tempt  me.  Ask 
me  anything  else,  but  not  to  seal 
your  death  warrant. " 

' '  Papa,  you  startle  me  !  " 

1 '  I  want  to,  child,  for  you  blindly 
shut  your  eyes  to'  your  danger.  It 
horrifies  me  to  think  of  it.  Oh, 
Adela,  if  you  would  only  do  as  I 
beg  you  — " 

1 '  Papa,  don't  say  any  more.  But 
since  you  have  allowed  me  to  read 
that  letter,  I  will  not  ask  you  again 
to  be  allowed  to  reply.  He  will  not 
doubt  me.  Whatever  happens,  he 
will  believe  me  true." 

"Adela,  child,  don't  cry.  You 
know  I  can't  bear  to  make  you  cry. 
If  you  asked  anything  else  which  it 
is  in  my  power  to  grant  I  would  do 
so." 

"Papa,  I  was  thinking  of  some- 
thing else, "  she  said,  brokenly  ;  "I 


n6 


In  Bonds. 


want  you  to  give  me  something. 
You  have  often  offered  me  a  little 
slave  ;  will  you  give  me  one  now  ? " 

' '  Why,  Adela  !  "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Holmes, thoroughly  surprised,  "what 
an  extraordinary  idea  !  How  whim- 
sical you  are,  Addie.  Well,  which 
one  do  you  want  ?  " 

La  Guerita  listened  breathlessly. 
The  answer  she  expected,  yet  dread- 
ed, came.  ' '  I  want  little  Harry — 
Rita's  child,  papa. " 

' '  What  in  the  world  do  you  want 
of  him?" 

' '  Poor  little  fellow,  I  want  to  put 
him  out  of  the  way  of  Aunt  Ma- 
tilda. She  positively  hates  the  child, 
and  makes  his  life  miserable ;  and, 
besides,  I  want  to  remove  him  from 
the  influence  of  that  wicked  mother 
of  his." 

' '  There  is  an  adjective  in  that  sen- 
tence that  I  object  to,  Adela.  The 
woman  has  done  nothing  to  prove 
herself  wicked,  has  she?" 

"Not  that  I  know  of,"  admitted 
Miss  Holmes,  reluctantly. 

"Very  well,  then,  you  should  not 
condemn  her." 

' '  I  think  I  have  reasons  enough 
for  doing  so,  papa.  But  never  mind 
them  ;  I  only  want  to  know  whether 
I  can  have  Harry  ?  " 

' '  What  would  you  do  with  him  ?" 

"I  would  put  him  where  his 
mother  would  not  be  likely  to  see 
him  again.  I'd  try  to  make  him  for- 
get that  such  a  woman  ever  existed. " 

La  Guerita  bent  her  head  and 
groaned,  crying  in  the  depth  of  her 
soul :  ' '  What  have  I  done  to  merit 
such  a  fate  ? "  She  listened  eagerly 
for  what  Mr.  Holmes  should  say,  and 
drew  a  deep  sigh  of  relief  as  he  re- 
marked : 


' '  Really,  Adela,  I  think  it  would 
scarcely  be  right  under  the  peculiar 
circumstances  in  which  Rita  came  to 
us,  you  know. " 

' '  Is  Harry  a  slave  ? "  asked  Miss 
Holmes  quickly.  "He  was  born 
while  his  mother  was  free." 

' '  I  think  you  would  find  it  pretty 
hard  to  prove  that  he  is  not, "  he  an- 
swered, laughing  uneasily. 

"Here,  yes,  and  perhaps  every- 
where ;  but  at  any  rate,  while  this 
war  lasts,  his  bonds  are  strong  enough, 
But,  papa,  whether  he  is  a  slave  or 
not,  you  surely  do  not  intend  to  have 
that  bright  little  fellow  brought  up 
like  the  negro  children,  his  intellect 
neglected,  his  very  body  forced  into 
brute  strength,  and  both  rendered 
unfit  for  aught  but  toil ;  you  surely 
cannot  intend  that  Harry  shall  be 
brought  up  like  that  ? " 

"Well,  I'm  sure  I  don't  know, 
Addie ;  I  suppose  not,  though  the 
truth  is,  these  white  fellows  among 
the  blacks  are  like  fire  among  straw, 
and  education  only  makes  them 
worse. " 

"  Papa  if  you  will  give  that  boy  to 
me  he  shall  not  be  as  fire  among 
straw.  I  will  sacredly  promise  you 
that  he  shall  never  give  you  any 
trouble." 

"I  don't  half  like  it,  Adela.  I 
can't  help  thinking  of  his  mother. " 

"Papa  you  needn't;  she  must 
hate  the  child,  else  would  she  have 
disgraced  him  by  bringing  him  here  ? 
By  what  possible  course  of  reasoning 
could  she  have  persuaded  herself  that 
she  was  benefiting  him  by  taking  him 
from  affluence  and  love,  and  plung- 
ing him  into  the  very  depths  of  deg- 
radation and  mental  darkness. " 

"Good  Heavens,  Adela  !  how  do 


In  Bonds. 


I  know?  But  still  I  don't  like  to 
separate  him  from  her.  I  dare  say 
she  would  be  glad  enough  herself  to 
teach  him  to  read  and  all  that. " 

"Indeed,  papa,  she  has  more  than 
once  utterly  refused  to  do  so.  Ah, 
poor  little  fellow,  she  would  ruin  him 
both  body  and  soul.  She  is  an  in- 
fidel!" 

' '  Ah,  that  is  bad,  very  bad, "  said 
Mr.  Holmes,  gravely.  "Bad  for 
her,  I  mean  ;  the  boy  can  go  to  camp 
meeting  and  learn  everything  needful 
when  he  is  old  enough." 

' '  Papa,  will  you  let  me  have  the 
boy?" 

La  Guerita  arose  when  that  ques- 
tion was  asked  and  glided  softly  to 
the  door,  and  bent  her  head,  as  if 
fearful  of  losing  one  word  of  the 
master's  answer.  Her  face  looked 
ghastly  in  the  twilight,  her  lips  were 
ashen,  and  her  eyes  wildly  staring. 
Had  calm  Adela  Holmes  beheld  the 
white  slave  thus  gazing  upon  her  she 
would  have  shrieked  in  terror  and 
dismay,  but,  unconscious  of  her  vi- 
cinity, she  calmly  repeated  her  ques- 
tion. 

Mr.  Holmes  paced  the  room  un- 
easily, saying,  at  last,  "I  think  not, 
Adela." 

1 '  Oh,  papa  !  why  not  ? "  she  ex- 
claimed, in  a  voice  of  genuine  sorrow 
and  disappointment. 

"Because  I  think  the  mother  is 
right,  and  that  it  is  best  for  the  child 
to  remain  uneducated.  Rita  has 
been  free  and  is  now  a  slave  ;  she 
ought  to  know  best  about  the  matter. 
No  doubt  she  would  herself  have  led 
a  happier -life  if  she  had  been  suffered 
to  remain  in  ignorance." 

' '  But,  papa,  you  must  know  there 
is  a  higher  destiny  for  that  child. 


Oh,   that  woman's  curse  cannot  al- 
ways rest  upon  his  innocent  head. " 

' '  You  are  talking  wildly,  Adela. " 

"No,  no,  I  am  not.  Just  think 
of  all  the  evil  she  has  brought  upon 
him.  Has  she  not  torn  from  him  his 
birthright  of  freedom  ?  Has  he  not 
been  taken  from  the  midst  of  plenty 
to  be  that  vilest  thing  on  earth — a 
slave  ?  Has  she  not  divested  him  of 
his  very  name,  this  mother  whom  you 
reprove  me  for  calling  wicked  ?  Oh, 
papa,  I  loathe  her !  She  fills  me 
with  horror  when  I  think  that  she  has 
done  all  these  things — when,  worse 
than  all,  she  has  denied  him  a  knowl- 
edge of  God,  and  his  mercy  and  love. 
Oh,  papa,  I  am  pleading  for  that 
child's  very  soul.  Let  me  save  him 
from  his  wicked,  wicked  mother.  Let 
me  put  him  away  from  her  forever. " 

' '  What  was  that  ? "  Both  started, 
and  Miss  Holmes,  crying  ' '  Oh,  I 
forgot !  I  forgot !  She  has  heard  all ! " 
rushed  into  the  inner  room,  and  to 
her  amazement  found  La  Guerita  ly- 
ing across  the  threshold,  as  if  in 
death. 

Miss  Holmes  screamed  in  affright, 
and  hastening  in,  Mr.  Holmes  ex- 
claimed, "Good  God,  Adela,  you 
have  killed  her  !  "  and  lifting  her  in 
his  arms  carried  her  to  a  sofa. 

"It  is  nothing, "  returned  Miss 
Holmes,  regaining  her  self-posses- 
sion ;  ' '  She  has  only  fainted. " 

She  stepped  to  the  door  and  locked 
it,  continuing,  "There  is  no  use  in 
alarming  the  whole  house  about  it. 
Here  is  a  vinigrette  and  some  water  ; 
she'll  come  round  very  well,  I  dare 
say.  It's  all  passion,  no  doubt. " 

She  bent  over  the  motionless  fig- 
ure, applying  such  remedies  as  were 
at  hand,  and  as  she  looked  upon  the 


n8 


In  Bonds. 


faultless  countenance,  with  all  its  lines 
of  suffering  displayed  by  its  utter  life- 
lessness,  some  unpleasant  doubts  of 
the  truth  of  her  suspicions  darted 
through  her  mind,  and  caused  her  to 
shudder  like  a  guilty  creature. 

But  when  La  Guerita  unclosed  her 
eyes  and  gazed  around,  she  dissem- 
bled her  feelings,  and  as  she  cried  pit- 
eously  :  ' '  Oh,  no  !  I  was  not  wick- 
ed !  I  am  not  wicked  !  I  was  mad  !" 
she  turned  from  her  with  a  trembling 
heart,  and  hurried  from  the  room. 

' '  Be  calm,  be  calm, "  said  Mr. 
Holmes,  gently,  knowing  that  the 
awakening  he  had  feared  had  come ; 
"Be  calm,  and  forget  what  has 
passed. " 

' '  Oh,  I  cannot  be  calm  !  "  she 
cried,  springing  to  her  feet;  "Stay 
and  hear  me,  Mr.  Holmes,  I  entreat !" 

But  she  spoke  to  bare  walls.  He 
would  not  stay  to  listen  to  the  truth, 
and  blinded  by  the  sudden  light  that 
had  rushed  upon  her  bewildered 
mind,  La  Guerita  staggered  forth 
from  the  house,  and  groped  her  way 
to  the  lowly  cabin. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

14  Sure  some  ill  approaches, 
And  some  kind  spirit  knocks  softly  at  my  soul, 
To  tell  me  fate's  at  hand." 

Dryden. 

LA  GUERITA  DE€UBA  entered  her 
cabin  a  changed  woman.  The  shock 
which  alone  could  restore  her  to  her 
normal  condition  had  thrilled  like  an 
electric  current  through  her  very  be- 
ing, and  on  the  instant  she  had  been 
transformed  from  the  mad  woman, 
who  had  cursed  her  Creator,  to  a  ra- 
tional creature,  beholding  at  once  her 
duty,  and  the  mercy  of  her  God. 

She  realized  at  once  that  she  had 


been  mad,  and  that  her  mind  was 
once  more  restored  to  her,  and  throw- 
ing herself  upon  the  bare  floor,  she 
poured  forth  her  soul  before  the  Lord, 
and  wept  long  and  passionately — the 
first  tears  that  had  fallen  from  her 
eyes  since  Harold  died. 

The  precious  drops  soothed  and 
refreshed  her.  They  trickled  over 
her  fingers  like  rain  ;  and  as  she 
looked  upon  them  she  exclaimed  : 
' '  Thank  God  I  am  sane  !  Thank 
God  I  can  weep  now." 

For  a  long  time  she  crouched  up- 
on the  floor,  weeping,  but  not  des- 
pairingly, thanking  God  in  her  heart 
of  hearts  that  her  reason  had  return- 
ed to  her,  and  going  over  in  unbroken 
order  the  events  of  her  past  life. 

The  roll  of  carriage  wheels  upon 
the  gravel  disturbed  her.  Once  she 
raised  her  head  and  thought  "Mrs. 
Holmes  must  be  come.  But  what  a 
noise  they  are  making,  almost  as 
much  as  if  every  negro  on  the  place 
had  hurried  to  meet  her.  I  wonder 
if  this  is  unusual,  or  if  it  is  only  that 
I  can  appreciate  joyful  sounds  to- 
night, and  hear  them  more  readily 
than  ever  before  ? " 

She  arose  and  paced  the  room 
thoughtfully.  That  she  was  once 
more  sane  was  to  her  too  joyful  a  re- 
flection for  others  of  a  sadder  descrip- 
tion to  weigh  yet  upon  her  thoughts. 
She  lighted  her  lamp,  and  as  its  dim 
light  fell  upon  her  poor  surround- 
ings, she  started  and  exclaimed  : 

' '  Ah,  I  had  almost  forgotten.  And 
this  is  the  atonement  I  hoped  to 
make.  Ah,  Harold,  Harold,  I  know 
now  that  no  atonement  was  required 
of  me. " 

She  paced  the  room  slowly,  mut- 
tering at  intervals  :  "I  must  take  the 


In  Bonds. 


consequences  of  my  madness  for  a 
time  at  least.  Mr.  Holmes  has  been 
kind  to  me,  and  I  will  remain  and 
toil  for  him  patiently  until  such  time 
as  I  can  find  an  opportunity  to  go 
into  the  North.  Surely  Mr.  Holmes 
will  let  me  go.  He  will  not  hold  a 
sane  woman  in  slavery,  who  entered 
into  bonds  when  mad.  He  must 
know  that  I  was  mad — and  Miss 
Adela,  too,  she  shall  know  ;  I  must 
prove  it  to  her.  But  how  ?  how  ? 
Oh,  God,  how  shall  I  save  my 
child?" 

Some  one  rattled  the  latch  of  the 
door  impatiently  ;  she  opened  it,  and 
drew  in  her  little  son,  clasping  him 
in  her  arms,  and  again  bursting  into 
tears. 

Oh,  Harold,  Harold,  darling  boy," 
she  cried,  as  he  gazed  at  her  in 
amazement.  ' '  Kiss  me,  darling,  and 
forgive  me.  I  never  meant  to  harm 
you,  darling.  I  meant  to  save  you/' 
Harold  kissed  her  with  an  expres- 
sion of  great  perplexity  upon  his  face. 
' '  What  is  the  matter  ? "  he  asked  ; 
' '  has  any  one  been  scolding  you  ? " 
"Xo,  my  darling,  no,"  she  an- 
swered, weeping  still  ;  "no  my 
precious  one." 

She  set  him  on  the  floor,  and  bath- 
ed her  face  and  hands,  remembering 
the  necessity  of  obtaining  composure. 
"  I  am  enabled  to  talk  to  you  now, 
my  child, "  she  said  at  last.  ' '  Come 
sit  upon  my  knee,  and  tell  me  that 
you  love  me. " 

"Yes,  I  do  love  you,"  said  the 
child,  caressing  her  fondly,  "and  I 
am  not  a  bit  afraid  of  you  either 
now. " 

She  clasped  him  to  her  bosom, 
holding  him  there  long  and  silently, 
breathing  the  first  prayer  that  had 


parted  her   lips   for   him  for   many 
weary  months. 

' '  I  have  something  to  show  you, 
darling, "  she  said,  at  length,  ' '  some- 
thing I  have  never  looked  at  since 
we  came  here.  But  first  tell  me,  if 
you  can,  what  your  name  is,  what  it 
used  to  be  ? " 

"Why,  wasn't  it  always  Harry 
Holmes  ? "  he  exclaimed  in  surprise. 

His  mother  shook  her  head,  sadly, 
saying:  "Alas,  poor  child,  I  was 
doing  my  work  well.  But  you  can 
at  least  tell  me  where  we  used  to 
live  ? " 

"Wasn't  it  at  a  place  like  this? 
Xo,  no,  I  don't  mean  just  like  this — 
and  yet  it  must  have  been ;  there 
were  flowers — yes,  always  flowers," 
and  the  boy  looked  up  with  a  sad  ex- 
pression of  perplexity  upon  his  bright 
young  face. 

' '  Yes,  there  were  flowers,  Harry, " 
said  his  mother,  eagerly  ;  "but  the 
place  was  not  like  this.  Try,  dear 
child,  to  remember  more.  Oh,  try. " 

He  shook  his  head,  slowly. 

' '  What  can  you  not  ?  Can't  you 
remember  anycne  that  lived  there  ? 
"Think,  now,  think.' 

' '  There  was  a  tall  man, "  he  said, 
after  a  long  pause  :  ' '  But — but  he 
went  away. " 

La  Guerita  took  a  miniature  case 
from  her  bosom.  ' '  There, "  she  said, 
unclasping  it  eagerly,  ' '  this  is  what 
I  promised  to  show  you.  There, 
look  at  it  carefully,  and  tell  me 
whether  that  is  the  tall  man  you  re- 
member ? " 

Harold  looked  at  the  portrait  doubt- 
fully. Then  a  light  seemed  to  break 
upon  his  mind.  "Yes,"  he  cried 
excitedly,  ' '  that  is  his  face, "  and 
dropping  the  case  into  his  mother's 


I2O 


In   Bonds. 


hands,  he  continued  rapidly,  and 
with  a  rapt  expression  of  counte- 
nance :  ' '  Yes,  there  was  another, 
too,  something  like  him,  but  darker, 
and  another  still ;  and  oh,  such  a 
beautiful  old  lady  ;  and  oh,  there 
were  more  even  than  that."  He 
slipped  from  her  lap,  and  leaned  up- 
on her  knees,  continuing  dreamily  : 
' '  Why,  I  can  see  faces  upon  faces, 
mamma.  I  can  only  tell  you  about 
them  like  I  do  my  dreams."  He 
caught  up  the  portrait  again,  and 
bursting  into  tears,  cried  :  "  Why, 
that  is  my  papa,  and  Uncle  Vic. — 
but  papa  the  most.  Oh,  I  know,  I 
know,  I  know." 

La  Guerita  clasped  the  child  in  her 
arms  in  an  excess  of  joy.  ' '  Thank 
God, "  she  said  fervently,  ' '  you  have 
not  forgotten.  Your  mind,  as  well 
as  mine,  has  been  awakened  to-day. " 

"Now  I  remember  it  all,"  cried 
the  boy,  gleefully.  "The  pretty 
flowers,  and  the  water,  all  flashing, 
flashing,  flashing.  Where  has  it  all 
gone,  mamma?" 

"It  is  all  in  the  old  place/'  she 
answered  softly,  "  and  perhaps  we 
may  all  go  back  to  it,  and  you  will 
once  more  be  Harold  DeGrey. " 

' '  There,  that's  what  I  was  trying 
to  think  of,"  he  exclaimed.  "Har- 
old DeGrey — yes,  that  was  it.  Was'nt 
it  funny  I  forgot." 

"Remember  it  now,  my  darling," 
replied  his  mother.  "  Try,  darling, 
to  remember  it  all. " 

The  child  looked  so  excited,  that 
she  held  him  to  her  bosom  for  a 
long  time,  saying  nothing,  and  only 
then  asking  if  Mrs.  Holmes  was  at 
home. 

' '  Oh,  yes, "  he  answered,  ' '  she 
came  long  ago,  and  there  was  com- 


pany with  her.     I    came  in  to  tell 
you.     I — 

At  that  moment,  the  door  was 
opened,  and  Miss  Holmes  entered, 
looking  unusually  pale,  and  with  a 
perplexed,  yet  resolute  expression  up- 
on her  countenance  as  she  exclaim- 
ed : 

' '  Go  to  the  house,  Rita  ;  you  are 
wanted  there.  Harry,  come  with  me. 
Rita,  hasten/' 

La  Guerita  obeyed  without  paus- 
ing to  think,  and  wondered  when  she 
reached  the  house,  as  she  beheld  in 
bewilderment  that  it  was  ablaze  with 
light,  and  that  there  were  sounds  of 
great  merriment  and  rejoicing  within. 
Following  the  impetus  of  Miss  Ade- 
la's  hand,  she  entered  the  dining- 
room,  but  was  so  dazzled  by  the 
glare  of  the  lamps  that  she  could 
distinguish  nothing. 

Suddenly  a  voice  fell  upon  her 
ear  with  startling  distinctness.  "My 
God,  it  is  La  Guerita  DeCuba  !  "  she 
heard,  and  fell  back  into  the  arms  of 
Miss  Holmes. 

'Twas  but  an  instant's  faintness, 
the  glare  of  the  lamps  instantly  sub- 
dued. Though  the  room  seemed  to 
whirl  like  a  ball  through  space,  she 
sprang  to  her  feet,  as  she  felt  her 
hands  clasped  in  an  iron-like  grip, 
and  heard  again  the  voice  of  Claude 
Leveredge. 

* '  I  thought  you  were  dead  !  "  he 
cried.  ' '  They  told  me  you  would 
die.  Oh,  God,  what  I  have  suf- 
fered. " 

His  hated  touch,  perhaps,  more 
than  his  words,  recalled  her  to  her- 
self. She  cast  off  his  detaining 
hands,  and  glanced  at  him  with  an 
expression  of  abhorrence,  which  was 
not  lost  upon  him,  or  Adela  Holmes, 


In  Bonds. 


121 


who,  white  and  trembling,  regarded 
the  scene.  By  her  side  stood  Harold, 
who  suddenly  threw  himself  into  his 
mother's  arms,  crying,  in  terror  : 
"Oh,  mamma,  don't  let  him  take  me 
away !  Oh,  mamma,  mamma  !  " 

Claude  Leveredge  looked  at  the 
child  fiercely,  retreating  a  step,  and 
exclaiming  :  ' '  Take  him  away !  take 
him  away !  " 

' '  What  in  the  world  is  the  meaning 
of  this  ? "  demanded  Mr.  Holmes,  in 
a  tone  of  amazement ;  ' '  Have  you 
all  taken  leave  of  your  senses  ?  " 

' '  It  don't  mean  anything  more  than 
that  his  satanic  majesty  is  with  his 
friend,  as  usual/'  said  Miss  Matilda, 
meaningly. 

La  Guerita  never  remembered  how 
she  effected  her  escape  from  the  din- 
ing room,  but  a  few  minutes  later  she 
was  in  her  cabin  and  had  bolted  the 
door,  feeling  that  she  should  die  at 
his  feet  if  Claude  Leveredge  entered 
there. 

One  fervent  prayer  burst  again  and 
again  from  her  lips  as  she  stood  in  the 
center  of  her  room,  pressing  her 
hands  upon  her  burning  temples,  ex- 
claiming :  ' '  Oh,  God,  preserve  my 
senses ;  my  reason  totters.  Oh,  Christ, 
strengthen  it ! '' 

It  was  fearful  to  her  to  know  what 
great  danger  this  great  shock  brought 
nigh  her.  She  knew  she  had  been 
mad  and  she  feared  to  be  alone,  lest 
terrors  should  grow  out  of  the  dark- 
ness, and  all  the  horrors  of  lunacy 
once  more  seize  upon  her.  She 
feared  that,  at  first,  more  than  the 
actual  presence  of  Claude  Leveredge. 
She  tried  to  persuade  herself  that  he 
had  spoken  more  in  the  accents  of 
remorse  than  of  passion ;  that  he 
would  rather  shield  than  persecute 
16 


her,  and   so,  by   degrees,   she    grew 
calm. 

Roxy  brought  in  supper,  and  al- 
though La  Guerita  could  eat  nothing 
herself  she  selected  a  few  of  the 
choicest  morsels  for  Harold,  and 
forced  herself  to  talk  with  him  upon 
indifferent  subjects.  Afterwards  she 
undressed  the  boy,  and  putting  him 
in  bed,  stayed  by  him  until  he  slept, 
each  moment  growing  calmer  as  she 
watched  his  quiet  and  regular  breath- 
ing. She  was  herself  surprised  after 
that,  that  she  could ^think"  so  calmly 
while  Claude  Leveredge  was  near. 
She  could  not  only  think,  but  pray  ; 
and  for  the  first  time  in  many  months 
she  knelt  down  and  communed  with 
the  Lord,  feeling  when  she  arose  from 
her  knees  that  her  soul  was  relieved 
from  half  its  burden. 

Then  she  recalled,  step  by  step, 
the  whole  of  her  past  life,  dwelling 
long  upon  the  bliss  of  her  married 
life,  saying,  with  a  shudder,  * '  What 
horrible  darkness  it  ended  in  ! " 
With  painful  distinctness  the  events 
that  followed  her  husband's  death 
came  before  her.  She  remembered 
what  a  dreadful  blank  her  life  seemed 
when  she  entered  the  library  to  read 
Claude  Leveredge's  fatal  letter,  and 
how  a  million  demons  seemed  to 
gather  round  her  as  she  read,  and 
to  demand  atonement  for  Harold's 
death.  She  remembered  how  they 
had  urged  her  on  in  her  mad  career, 
and  then  how  the  voices  had  grown 
fainter,  as  if  appeased,  but  had  only 
ceased  altogether  when  the  voice  of 
Conscience  was  aroused,  and  Reason 
regained  her  throne. 

1 '  They  thought  me  half  crazed 
with  grief  at  home,"  she  said,  "but 
here  thev  must  have  known  that  I 


122 


In  Bonds. 


was  mad  when  I  gave  up  not  only  my 
own  freedom  but  my  child's.  I  know 
now  what  it  means,  though  I  did  not 
then.  My  mother  knew  that  I  was 
mad,  Mr.  Gordon  knew  it,  and  Mr. 
Holmes  ?  No,  I  cannot  tell  what  he 
thought ;  yet  he  must,  have  known. " 

Then  she  thought  wildly  that  they 
had  perhaps  merely  humored  her 
with  a  pretense  of  enslavement.  She 
even  thought  that  her  family  must 
have  traced  her,  and  suffered  her  to 
remain  in  bonds,  merely  to  avoid 
crossing  her  mad  passion.  But  that 
hope  quickly  fled.  The  war  had 
destroyed  all  sympathy  between  the 
North  and  the  South.  Her  friends 
would  have  taken  her  from  the  block- 
aded country  at  any  risk,  and  she  felt 
that  Mr.  Gordon  had  been  fearfully 
in  earnest  in  her  enslavement,  if  no 
other  had.  No,  no  ;  it  was  no  jest. 
She  was  a  slave,  and  Claude  Lever- 
edge  had  discovered  her. 

There  was  madness  in  the  thought, 
but  she  cried  out  that  she  would  be 
free  :  that  Norton  Holmes  would  not 
hold  her  in  bondage  ;  that  she  could 
buy  herself  a  thousand  times,  and 
that  he  would  surely  suffer  her  to 
depart. 

And  still  fighting  for  this  hope, 
which  a  thousand  fears  strove  to  tear 
from  her,  La  Guerita  DeCuba  paced 
her  cabin  floor,  and  longed  for  morn- 
ing, that  she  might  go  to  Norton 
Holmes  and  entreat  her  freedom. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

"  They  told  me,  by  the  sentence  of  the  law 
They  had  commission  to  seize  all  my  fortune." 

Otway. 

MR.  HOLMES  was  usually  an  early 
riser,  and  with  feverish   impatience, 


from  the  dawning  of  the  day,  La 
Guerita  watched  for  him  to  enter  the 
lawn ;  but  all  in  vain.  And  when 
Roxy  brought  the  breakfast,  some 
time  later  then  usual,  she  said,  that 
' '  Massa  had  been  so  glad  the  night 
afore  to  see  Mass'r  Claude  git  home 
again  that  he  was  clear  tuckered  out, 
and  wouldn't  be  able  to  git  up  'till  all 
hours." 

So  La  Guerita  knew  that  all  hope 
of  speaking  to  him  that  morning 
was  over,  and  with  a  sigh  turned 
to  the  table  and  gave  Harold  his 
breakfast,  while  Roxy  stood  near, 
twirling  a  napkin  in  her  hand,  and 
giving  a  glowing  account  of  the 
night's  feast. 

' '  And,  law,  what  a  time  dat  wus 
when  you  corned  in, "  said  the  garru- 
lous maiden.  "Did  you  eber  see 
Mass  Claude  afore  ?  " 

This  was  an  embarrassing  question, 
but,  fortunately,  Roxy  thought  it  too 
absurd  to  require  an  answer,  and 
continued :  "I  s'pose  you  neber 
did;  but  I'm  bressed  ef  I  wa'n't 
scared  when  I  seed  Mass  Claude 
jump  for'ard  dat  away,  and  saw  his 
eyes  look'd  jiss  like  two  flames  ob 
fire  burnin'  up  out  ob  gray  ashes. 
But  the  minute  you  was  done  gone 
he  bust  out  a  laughin',  fit  to  kill  his- 
self,  and  ses  he  :  '  What  a  fool  I  am. 
I  actually  thought  I'd  seed  dat  wo- 
man somewhar  when  she  fust  come 
into  de  room.  Who  de  mischief  is 
she?' 

' ' '  Papa's  slave  —  Rita, '  said  Miss 
Addie,  a  lookin'  deadful  pale  and 
stern. 

"And  Mass  Claude  jiss  sat  down 
then  as  ef  he'd  been  struck,  and  said  : 
'  Oh,  my  God/  like's  ef  he'd  loss  his 
wits  like. 


In  Bonds. 


123 


"Then  Miss  Tilda,  she  goes  up 
to  him  and  bobs  and  curtsies  so, 
you'd  a'  thought  her  cap-borders 
would  a  knocked  to  pieces  'gainst 
her  head,  and  ses  she  :  '  Yes,  that 
was  papa's  slave  —  Rita  ;  you  are 
s'prised  to  hear  it,  I  s'pose  ? ' 

"  '  That  I  am  ? '  ses  he,  a  burstin' 
out  a  laughin'  again.  f  I  thought  she 
was  a  white  woman  ;  and  when  she 
fust  came  into  the  room  I  tuk  her  fur 
a  lady  I'd  seed  in  Spain  !  But,  law, 
I  don't  s'pose  she's  a  bit  like  her. ' 

' '  And  shuah  enuff,  Rita,  I've  often 
thought  you  looked  like  a  pictur  ob 
a  furrin  lady,  you'se  so  differn't  from 
de  res'  ob  us,  you  know.  I  was  tell- 
in'  Aunt  Sally  'bout  de  name  he  call- 
ed you,  an'  she  ses  she's  gwine  to  gib 
it  to  de  baby.  Lo-wa-ter,  wasn't  it  ? 
Only  soft  and  purty  like. " 

' '  She  might  have  said  La  Gueri- 
ta,  for  Harold  glanced  up  suddenly, 
with  flushed  face  and  eager  eyes, 
as  if  he  had  heard  a  well-known 
sound.  His  mother  caught  his  eye, 
and  put  her  finger  on  his  lip,  and 
he  colored  more  than  ever  with  the 
effort  to  keep  silence,  and  looked 
down  in  his  plate,  presently  dropping 
back  in  his  chair,  with  his  eyes  fixed 
dreamily  upon  the  view  beyond  the 
cabin-door.  He  did  not  move  until 
Roxy  had  gone  and  his  mother  touch- 
ed his  shoulder,  saying  : 

"What  are  you  thinking  of,  my 
darling  ? " 

He  looked  up  dreamily.  ' '  I  can't 
tell  you  what  I'm  thinking  of,  mam- 
ma ;  it  is  all  mixed  up.  But,  oh, 
mamma  !  "  he  continued,  clasping 
his  arms  around  her  neck,  excitedly, 
' '  I  know  I've  seen  that  gentleman 
before.  I  know  I've  seen  that  black 
man. " 


"The  gentleman  is  not  black," 
corrected  La  Guerita,  gravely. 

' '  He  is  as  black  as  you  are,  and 
a  great  deal  blacker  than  I  am, "  pro- 
tested Harold  ;  ' '  and  if  we  are  call- 
ed black,  I  don't  see  why  he  shouldn't 
be!" 

"But  no  one  calls  us  black,"  said 
La  Guerita,  her  heart  sinking,  as  she 
remembered  that  she  had  herself  sub- 
jected her  sensitive  child  to  the  possi- 
bility of  such  an  insult. 

' '  Oh,  don't  they,  though  ? ''  he 
cried,  in  an  aggrieved  tone.  ' '  Miss 
Matilda  is  always  calling  me  a  little 
nigger ;  and  Mass  Rufe  is  always 
calling  out :  '  Here,  little  nigger,  run 
and  fetch  my  ball ! '  '  Say,  blackee, 
go  get  my  bat ! '  Miss  Matilda  call- 
ed me  a  black  imp  the  other  day, 
and  I  said  I  wasn't  black  ;  and  she 
said,  yes,  I  was  the  worst  kind  of 
black.  So  then  I  told  her,  I  guess'd 
she'd  lost  her  specs,  and  didn't  know 
white  when  she  saw  it  without  them  ; 
and  then  I  ran — I  just  did  !  " 

"Oh,  Harold,  how  could  you  be 
so  impertinent  ? " 

' '  Oh,  that  ain't  anything  !  "  he 
answered,  quite  unabashed  ;  ' '  we 
don't  care  for  old  Miss  'Tilda,  except 
when  she  pokes  us  with  a  stick. " 

La  Guerita  could  not  refrain  from 
smiling  at  the  grimace  which  accom- 
panied these  words  :  but  a  few  min- 
utes later  she  left  the  child  with  a 
heavy  heart,  and  went  to  the  school- 
room— the  weary  treadmill  to  which 
she  was  self-condemned. 

She  had  been  there  but  a  short 
time,  and  was  leaning  over  Rufus, 
explaining  some  difficult  passage  in 
French,  when,  looking  up,  she  saw 
Claude  Leveredge  leaning  idly  upon 
the  sill  of  the  open  window.  He 


I24 


In   Bonds. 


was  looking  upon  the  group  smil- 
ingly and  carelessly,  with  the  air  of 
one  quite  at  home.  He  nodded  gay- 
ly,  tapping  the  ashes  from  his  cigar, 
and  holding  it  out  at  arms  length, 
that  the  smoke  might  not  enter  the 
room. 

1 '  What  a  nice  school-room  you 
have  here/'  he  said,  addressing  the 
children  rather  than  La  Guerita;  "it 
seems  very  cool  and  pleasant." 

' '  'Tisn't  a  bit  pleasant, "  growled 
Rufus.  ' '  I  just  wish  you  had  to  sit 
here  all  day  long,  as  we  do. " 

Claude  laughed,  and  looked  at  La 
Guerita,  as  if  he  should  like  to  learn 
her  opinion  of  the  plan,  but  merely 
said  : 

"It  seems  to  me  you're  a  pretty 
big  fellow  to  be  here,  Rufe ;  you're 
nearly  fourteen,  ain't  you  ?  Why  does- 
n't your  father  send  you  to  school  ?  " 

' '  Oh,  because  papa  thinks  Rita  can 
teach  us  everything  !  "  replied  Rufus, 
in  a  surly  tone. 

' '  Papa  knows  that  she  can  do  very 
well  by  us  for  another  year, "  explain- 
ed Alfred,  ' '  and  then  we  are  to  go  to 
Chapel  Hill,  if  the  College  is  still 
open. " 

"Say,  cousin  Claude,"  interrupted 
Minna,  ' '  where  have  you  been  this 
long  time  ? " 

' '  I  have  been  in  England  and 
France,  Miss  Inquisitive  Puss,  and, 
by  the  way,  I  have  brought  you  the 
most  beautiful  dress  from  Paris  you 
ever  saw  in  your  life. " 

Minna  sprang  up  in  a  transport  of 
delight,  exclaiming:  "Oh,  cousin 
Claude,  how  good  you  are. " 

/ '  It  seems  to  me, "  responded  the 
good  cousin,  "that  your  discipline  is 
not  very  strict. " 

' '  Oh,  yes  it  is  ;  Miss  Rita  makes 


us  behave,  and  I'm  sure  she  doesn't 
want  you  here. " 

Claude  Leveredge  looked  at  La 
Guerita  most  earnestly  for  a  moment, 
a  slight  flush  passing  over  his  brow, 
which  deepened  to  a  crimson  as 
Minna  exclaimed  :  "I  say,  cousin 
Claude,  I  heard  Mr.  Rathburn  tell 
pa  you  were  married.  You  weren't, 
were  you?  " 

He  started  from  his  lounging  po- 
sition, and  then  burst  into  a  loud 
laugh.  ' '  Well,  that  is  a  good  joke, " 
he  exclaimed  ;  { '  why,  Minna,  I  am 
waiting  for  you. " 

' '  Are  you  ? "  said  Minna,  inno- 
cently ;  ' '  why,  I  thought  it  was 
Adela  ;  but  anyhow,  I'm  glad  you're 
not  married. " 

Claude  Leveredge  turned  away, 
but  Rufus  called  him  back,  saying  : 
' '  Look  here,  cousin  Claude,  are  you 
going  to  join  the  army  ? " 

1  <  Can't  say,  I'm  sure, "  he  returned, 
carelessly  ;  ' '  You  know  the  Yankees 
might  shoot  me  if  I  did." 

"Coward ! "  ejaculated  Rufus,  con- 
temptuously. 

His  cousin  looked  at  him  with  an 
amused  smile.  "I'll  give  you  a 
pair  of  spurs,  my  young  knight,  when 
you  go, "  he  said. 

"  You  may  be  called  upon  to  keep 
your  promise, "  returned  the  boy,  his 
cheeks  flushing  redly  ;  ' '  Mr.  Gordon 
told  me  the  other  day  that  even  my 
young  hands  might  be  called  into 
action  before  the  independence  of 
the  South  is  achieved." 

' '  I  think  it  very  likely, "  responded 
his  cousin,  drily. 

"  I  don't  believe  you  are  going  to 
the  war,  cousin  Claude,"  exclaimed 
Minna,  ' '  for  you  don't  talk  like  it  ; 
and  besides,  you  havn't  got  on  a  gray 


In  Bonds. 


125 


coat  all  covered  over  with  gold  lace. 
I  say,  is  my  dress  red  and  white? 
Oh,  I'll  just  lave  it  if  it  is,  but  I  shan't 
wear  it  if  it's  got  any  blue  on  it.  But 
I'll  be  glad  if  you  don't  go  to  the  war  ; 
I  want  you  to  stay  home  with  us. 
How  long  are  you  going  to  stay, 
cousin  Claude  ?" 

He  looked  steadily  at  La  Guerita 
as  he  replied  deliberately  :  "I  shall 
stay  until  the  work  I  have  found  to 
do  here  is  accomplished  ;  yes,  until 
that  business  is  completed  to  my  sat- 
isfaction. " 

' '  I  didn't  know  you  had  any 
business,"  replied  Minna,  naively; 
' '  Twas  only  this,  morning  I  heard 
Aunt  Matilda  say  you  hadn't  a  bit  of 
business  in  the  world. " 

' '  I  was  of  the  same  opinion  once, " 
he  answered  laughing,  yet  glancing 
stealthily  at  La  Guerita,  "but  last 
night  I  found  I  had  still  a  great  deal 
to  do,  and  I  mean  to  stay  until  it 
is  completed — yes,  until  it  is  com- 
pleted." 

He  nodded,  smiled,  and  walked 
away  whistling  a  lively  air,  as  if  in 
the  most  hopeful  mood,  and  La  Gue- 
rita in  soul  bent  down  and  raised  the 
gauntlet  of  defiance  he  had  cast  at  her 
feet. 

She  was  inexpressibly  relieved  when 
he  passed  out  of  sight  and  hearing. 
For  a  few  moments  during  which 
the  hum  of  the  children's  voices  was 
rising  and  falling  indistinctly  around 
her  she  stood  motionless,  thinking 
that  her  application  to  Mr.  Holmes 
would  be  in  vain,  and  shuddering  at 
the  remembrance  of  the  invincible 
face  Claude  Leveredge  had  turned 
toward  her  when  he  said  he  would 
stay  at  Holmsford  until  his  business 
was  completed. 


It  seemed  to  her  that  the  morning 
would  never  pass.  She  looked  so 
pale  and  haggard  that  the  children 
often  asked  if  she  were  sick'.  She 
was  glad  for  the  sake  of  quiet  to  say 
that  she  was,  and  indeed  she  spoke 
truly,  for  her  veins  were  filled  with 
fever  and  her  temples  throbbed  un- 
ceasingly with  the  terrible  anxiety 
that  was  each  moment  growing  more 
intense. 

She  thanked  God  when  twelve  o'- 
clock came,  and  unable  longer  to 
restrain  herself,  hurried  to  the  house 
and  asked  for  Mr.  Holmes.  He  was 
alone  in  a  small  study  or  office,  in 
which  he  usually  transacted  the  bus- 
iness of  the  estate. 

He  was  writing  as  she  softly  en- 
tered the  room,  closing  the  door  after 
her,  and  leaning  against  it  for  sup- 
port. 

"Well,  Rita,"  he  said,  glancing 
over  his  shoulder  carelessly,  and  con- 
tinuing his  writing,  "children  been 
troublesome  to-day  ?" 

She  advanced  a  step  into  the  room, 
turning  very  faint  and  dizzy,  as  she 
stammered  :  "  I  beg  your  pardon  for 
disturbing  you,  Mr.  Holmes,  but — 
but  I  would  like  to  speak  to  you  on — 
on  an  important  subject." 

She  would  have  given  worlds  to 
have  been  able  to  speak  in  her  usu- 
ally calm  tones,  but  Mr.  Holmes 
seemed  to  take  no  notice  of  her  con- 
fusion, but  merely  looked  at  her 
inquiringly. 

' '  I  wish  to  ask  one  question,  sir, " 
she  continued,  summoning  all  her 
courage  ;  ' '  Am  I  really  a  slave  ? " 

"Why,  good  God,  yes." 

She  shuddered.  ' '  That  is  dreadful, " 
she  said  ;  ' '  but  oh,  Mr.  Holmes, 
answer  me  once  more,  did  you  not 


126 


In  Bonds. 


think  me  insane  when  I  offered  to 
become  a  slave  ?  " 

Mr.  Holmes  colored  and  bit  his 
lips  nervously.  ' '  Why  do  you  ask  ?" 
he  said  ;  ' '  what  can  that  matter  to 
you  now  ? " 

' '  Oh,  sir, "  she  said,  earnestly,  ' '  it 
matters  much.  I  have  come  to  you 
now  to  tell  you  that  you  were  right. 
I  was  mad!  Oh,  terribly,  terribly 
mad !  But  now,  by  the  peace,  the 
discipline,  the  healthful  toil  I  have 
found  here,  my  reason  has  been  mer- 
cifully restored  to  me. " 

' '  Do  you  wish  me  to  believe  that 
up  to  this  time  you  have  been  a  mad 
woman?"  asked  Mr.  Holmes,  coldly. 

"Mad  on  that  one  subject,  yes/' 
replied  La  Guerita,  excitedly. 

' '  On  what  subject  ? " 

' '  Oh,  sir,  you  must  know.  Upon 
that  of  making  atonement  for  the  evil 
my  birth  had  wrought.  Ah,  well  I 
know  now  that  such  atonement  was 
impossible,  and  that  it  was  never  re- 
quired of  me,  and  that  all  I  could 
hope  to  make  could  only  make  the 
evil  greater. " 

"What  do  you  wish  me  to  under- 
stand by  all  this  ?"  asked  Mr.  Holmes, 
after  a  pause,  in  a  voice  that  would 
have  been  trivial  had  the  matter  of 
discussion  been  trivial. 

La  Guerita  was  fearfully  excited, 
but  she  strove  to  control  herself.  She 
clenched  her  hands  and  drew  her 
lips  against  her  teeth  in  order  to 
speak  firmly.  "It  is  right  that  I 
should  speak  to  you  plainly,"  she 
said  ;  "it  was  very  easy  for  me,  in 
my  madness,  to  entreat  to  become 
your  slave  ;  I  scarcely  know  why  it 
is  so  hard  for  me  now  to  beseech  you 
for  my  freedom." 
An  expression  of  displeasure,  which 


he  vainly  endeavored  to  change  to 
surprise,  rested  upon  the  face  of  the 
planter  as  he  looked  upon  the  sup- 
pliant. 

' '  You  surprise  me,  Rita, "  he  said  ; 
' '  I  thought  you  had  considered  the 
matter  well  before  you  entered  into 
slavery. " 

He  arose  and  took  a  parchment 
from  a  small  tin  case.  ' '  I  suppose, " 
he  said,  "you  recognize  this  ?  "  Do 
you  not  also  remember  the  words  in 
which  you  promised  to  become  my 
slave,  and  that  of  my  heirs,  for  life  ? " 

"You  will  not  hold  that  bond 
against  me  ? "  she  queried,  in  faltering 
tones. 

"I  wish  to  hold  nothing  against 
you, "  he  answered,  quietly  ;  ' '  there 
is,  in  fact,  no  need  to  do  so.  Your 
emancipation  papers  are  in  Mr.  Gor- 
don's hands.  You  see  I  merely  wish 
to  remind  you  that  you  are  lawfully 
my  slave,  and  that  I  have  as  much 
right  to  you  as  to  that  boy  I  bought 
of  a  speculator,  and  gave  a  thousand 
dollars  for,  last  week. " 

For  a  moment  she  was  dumb, 
then  she  cried  mournfully  :  "  I  do 
not  dispute  your  right  to  hold  me  in 
bonds,  Mr.  Holmes  ;  but  I  entreat 
you  to  release  me." 

' '  I  cannot  do  it,  Rita.  There, 
now,  let  that  answer  suffice. " 

La  Guerita  had  half  expected  this 
answer,  yet  it  stunned  her,  and  after 
a  few  moments  she  said,  calmly  : 
"  Will  you  tell  me  why  you  deny  me 
my  freedom,  Mr.  Holmes  ?" 

"  What  a  question  !  "  he  returned, 
angrily.  ' '  Had  you  better  not  call 
in  all  my  field-hands,  and  bid  them 
ask  me  why  I  will  not  give  them  their 
freedom.  Rita,  I  with  thousands  of 
others,  am  maintaining  a  principle  ; 


In  Bonds. 


127 


I  have  sworn  never  to  free  a  slave, 
and  I  will  not  free  you. " 

' '  Sell  me,  then, "  she  cried  ;  ' '  sell 
me  to  my  friends — to  those  who  will 
buy  me  at  any  price.  Set  some  price 
upon  me,  and  let  me  buy  my  .free- 
dom." 

"  I  can't  do  it,"  answered  Mr. 
Holmes,  flushing  to  the  temples, 
' '  the  principle  would  be  the  same  as 
if  I  freed  you  at  once.  Besides, "  he 
added,  deliberately,  "you  see,  Rita, 
— you'll  excuse  the  phrase,  one  never 
knows  exactly  how  to  speak  to  you — 
you  are  a  fancy  article,  not  easily 
found  in  the  market,  and  the  truth  is, 
I  wouldn't  sell  you  at  any  price ;  to 
prove  that,  I'll  tell  you  that  I  refused 
four  thousand  dollars  for  you,  offer- 
ed by  Judge  Gaylord  only  last  week. " 

La  Guerita  staggered  blindly  into 
a  chair,  thinking  this  must  be  the 
worst  degradation  that  could  fall  up- 
on her. 

' '  Oh,  don't  let  that  trouble  you, " 
said  Mr.  Holmes,  reassuringly ;  ' '  now 
you  know  my  thoughts,  don't  worry 
any  more  about  freedom.  Consider 
the  matter  settled,  and  go  back  to 
your  work  like  a  good  girl.  Re- 
member that  I  tried  to  dissuade  you 
from  entering  into  slavery,  but  w-hat 
has  been  done  is  now  irrevocable. " 

' '  Irrevocable. "  It  seemed  to  La 
Guerita  the  word  of  doom.  It  level- 
ed all  the  little  pride  that  had  hither- 
to sustained  her,  and  throwing  her- 
self upon  her  knees,  she  entreated 
him  by  all  things  sacred  in  earth  and 
heaven  to  set  her  free.  But  all  was 
vain. 

' '  I  can  do  nothing  for  you, "  he 
said  ;  ' '  rise,  and  calm  yourself,  you 
will  remain  my  slave  until  death,  or 
the  fate  of  war  releases  vou.  I  have 


put  it  out  of  my  power  to  move  in 
the  matter." 

She  arose,  quivering  with  excite- 
ment, and  fixing  her  burning  £yes 
upon  him,  cried  :  ' '  It  is  false  ;  you 
could  free  me  if  you  would.  Your 
word  of  honor  is  nothing.  You, 
yourself,  offered  to  restore  my  free- 
dom, should  I  ever  desire  it.  Though 
I  was  mad,  I  remember  that.  But 
though  I  am  your  slave,  my  boy  is 
not.  You  have  no  right  to  hold 
him.  Send  him  North  to  his  lawful 
guardians. " 

Mr.  Holmes  seemed  startled. 

"Prove  him  free,"  he  cried,  pant- 
ing with  anger  ;  ' '  prove  him  free  if 
you  can." 

"I  will,"  she  replied  ;  "his 
guardians  shall  be  here  to  rescue 
him  and  me,  before  your  cowardly 
soul  has  time  to  grow  calm  again. 
Norton  Holmes,  I  warn  you  that  I 
was  mad  when  I  entered  into  bonds, 
and  consequently  not  responsible  for 
what  I  did,  and  that  you  are  detain- 
ing a  free  woman  and  her  child  in 
slavery.  Ay,  and  when  the  time 
comes,  which  will  soon  be  here, 
when  I  can  prove  this  before  the 
wrorld,  you  will  rue  the  day  when 
you  denied  my  prayer  for  freedom. " 

Norton  Holmes  turned  toward  her, 
livid  with  ungovernable  rage.  "If 
you  have  ever  been  mad,"  he  cried, 
furiously,  "you  are  mad  now.  I 
should  be  rather  justified  in  giving 
you  a  straight-jacket  than  your  free- 
dom. Go. " 

She  obeyed,  and  a  moment  later 
Claude  Leveredge  entered  the  study 
from  an  inner  apartment. 

"Bravo,  uncle,"  he  cried,  "you 
did  that  splendidly. " 

' '  Gordon  foresaw  that  this  would 


128 


In  Bonds. 


come/'  he  replied,  wiping  his  fore- 
head, excitedly.  "I  did  take  that 
oath  that  I  told  her  of  one  day,  but  I 
should  surely  have  broken  it  but  for 
what  you  told  me  this  morning. 
Good  God  !  what  times  we  have 
fallen  upon,  when  even  one's  most 
private  actions  may  serve  to  con- 
demn him  of  treason  !  "  Tis  all 
Adela's  fault, "  he  added ;  ' '  she  won't 
listen  to  reason.  'Tis  a  pity,  though, 
that  that  poor  soul  has  to  suffer  for 
it." 

' '  Tut,  tut,  you  couldn't  have  spared 
her,  anyway.  Look  at  her  now. " 

He  drew  Mr.  Holmes  to  the  win- 
dow, and  both  looked  at  La  Guerita 
DeCuba  as  she  passed  on  to  her 
cabin. 

"There  is  a  frightful  despair  in 
'  the  droop  of  her  head,  the  fall  of  her 
hands,  and  in  the  very  motion  of  her 
limbs  as  she  walks,"  he  muttered, 
' '  that  shows  her  incapable  of  resist- 
ance. " 

' '  She  looks  sad, "  said  Mr.  Holmes. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Leveredge, 
turning  away  indifferently,  ' '  but  like 
all  of  her  race  she  is  incapable  of 
lasting  emotion.  But  never  mind 
her  now,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about 
business.  You  have  the  idea  that  I 
am  ruined,  but  I  can  prove  to  you 
very  satisfactorily  that  I  am  better  off 
now  than  I  have  ever  been  before. 
Europe,  after  all,  is  not  a  bad  place 
to  go  to  when  you  have  luck  on  your 
side,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  I  had 
it,  though  I  cared  very  little  for  it. " 
' '  Having  but  yourself  to  care  for. " 
' '  Of  course. " 

' '  Well,  well  ;  I  suppose  you  know 
your  own  business  best,  Claude,  but 
it  would  be  a  comfort  to  me  if  you 
would  settle  down. " 


' '  I  mean  to,  uncle.  Look  here  !  " 
said  Claude  Leveredge,  lighting  a  ci- 
gar and  spreading  some  papers  upon 
the  table.  "I  see  you're  uneasy 
about  Rita.  Well,  if  you're  anxious, 
we  can  ask  the  children  when  they 
come  in." 

But  when  the  children  came  they 
had  nothing  to  report  of  their  govern- 
ess, though  they  were  laughingly  in- 
terrogated by  Claude,  who  teazed  the 
boys  unmercifully  for  allowing  them- 
selves to  be  taught  by  a  woman  at  all. 

After  tea  he  sat  upon  the  piazza  for 
some  time,  evidently  in  deep  thought, 
although  he  endeavored  to  take  part 
in  the  conversation.  He  sprang  up 
suddenly,  saying  he  would  smoke  a 
cigar  in  the  shrubbery,  and  strolled 
slowly  out  of  sight.  A  few  moments 
later  Miss  Holmes  came  out  of  the 
house  and  asked  for  him,  and  being 
told  where  he  had  gone  threw  a  light 
shawl  around  her,  and  went  to  seek 
him. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

"  Most  other  passions  have  their  periods  of  fatigue 
and  rest — their  sufferings  and  their  cure;  but  obsti- 
nacy has  no  resource,  and  the  first  wound  is  mortal." 

Johnson. 

BUT  well  as  Miss  Holmes  was  ac- 
quainted with  ever)-  nook  of  the  gar- 
den, she  sought  her  cousin  for  some 
time  in  vain,  and  was  at  last  stand- 
ing, in  some  perplexity  and  annoy- 
ance, upon  one  of  the  most  secluded 
paths,  just  without  a  circle  of  roses, 
which  were  so  thickly  set  as  to  be  im- 
penetrable except  at  one  point,  when 
she  heard  voices,  which  she  immedi- 
ately recognized  as  those  of  Claude 
Leveredge  and  La  Guerita  DeCuba. 

Her  first  impulse  was  to  leave  the 
spot  as  quietly  as  she  came,  and  her 


In  Bonds. 


129 


second  to  put  aside  some  sprays  of 
foliage  and  see  what  attitude  those 
two,  who  had  been  all  day  in  her 
thoughts,  held  toward  each  other. 
She  was  conscious  of  a  feeling  of 
shame  as  she  bent  to  the  task  ;  but 
she  could  not  draw  back.  She  be- 
held them  quite  plainly  even  in  the 
dim  starlight,  and  at  the  first  glance 
saw  that  she  had  been  wrong — that 
the  white  slave  was  not  the  tool  of 
her  cousin,  and  that  she  regarded 
him,  not  as  a  lover,  but  as  her  bitter- 
est enemy. 

They  wer.e  standing  almost  at  the 
center  of  the  circle  of  rose-bushes. 
La  Guerita  was  facing  her ;  and  Miss 
Holmes  saw  without  hindrance  that 
her  face  was  deadly  pale,  and  that  she 
was  panting  for  breath,  as  if  she  had 
vainly  striven  to  wrest  her  hand  from 
that  of  Claude  Leveredge,  who  was 
standing  beside  her,  with  his  hat 
pushed  back  from  his  brow,  and  his 
eyes  shining  defiantly  from  under 
his  meeting  brows.  His  cigar  was 
*  smoldering  at  his  feet,  and  he  was 
muttering  between  his  teeth  :  ' '  Don't 
attempt  to  move,  La  Guerita  !  Be  si- 
lent ;  how  could  you  explain  your  ap- 
pearance here  ? " 

' '  Let  me  go  !  I  know  not  what 
evil  chance  brought  me  here  ? "  cried 
La  Guerita,  passionately. 

1 '  Don't  say  an  evil  chance, "  said 
Leveredge,  gently  ;  ' '  the  chance  will 
lead  only  to  good,  if  you  will  listen 
to  me." 

1 '  Let  go  my  hand  !  "  she  cried, 
fiercely. 

' '  No,  no  !  "  he  returned  ;  "  I  am 
determined  to  speak  to  you. " 

' '  Speak,  then  !  For  Heaven's 
sake  speak,  and  let  me  go  !  " 

Before  she  could  divine  his  inten- 
17 


tion  he  seized  her  other  hand,  and, 
bending  down,  looked  full  in  her 
face,  as  he  said  :  "La  Guerita,  I 
thank  God  that  I  can  hold  your 
hand  once  more." 

' '  Ah,  you  thought  me  dead  ? " 

' '  How  could  I  think  otherwise  ? " 
he  returned  ;  ' '  how  could  I  dream 
you  were  here  ?  Oh,  La  Guerita,  I 
thought  I  should  have  gone  mad 
when  I  heard  that  you  had  killed 
yourself. " 

"Did  Fabean  believe  that ?"  she 
asked,  in  a  faltering  voice. 

"  I  •  believe  so.  They  traced  you 
as  far  as  New  York  ;  then,  when  no 
more  was  to  be  discovered,  was  it  un- 
natural for  them  to  suppose  that  the 
waters  of  the  bay  covered  you  ?  I 
knew  nothing  of  it  until  I  went  to 
Ellisville,  two  months  ago,  intend- 
ing, if  you  lived,  to  see  you  and  tell 
you  howr  terribly  Harold's  death  af- 
fected me.  Good  God,  La  Guerita, 
I  never  meant  to  kill  him  ;  I  swear 
that  I  did  not." 

He  paused,  but  La  Guerita  made 
no  reply  ;  and  he  presently  continu- 
ed :  "I  went  to  Ellisville,  and  put 
up  at  a  quiet  hotel,  w^here  I  was  not 
known,  and  late  in  the  evening,  be- 
fore, however,  asking  any  questions, 
I  strolled  over  to  Enola.  Everything 
was  in  perfect  order.  There  was  no 
appearance  of  desolation  either  about 
the  house  or  grounds,  and  yet  all 
seemed  strangely  still.  I  noticed  that 
the  doors  and  windows  were  shut, 
and  as  I  passed  through  the  garden 
I  asked  a  man  who  was  watering  the 
flowers  if  Mrs.  DeGrey  was  at  home. 
By  the  way  he  stared  at  me  I  knew 
that  the  question  was  a  strange  one 
for  him  to  hear.  I  repeated  the  ques- 
tion, thinking  you  might  have  chang- 


130 


In  Bonds. 


ed  your  residence.  '  You  can't  have 
heard  the  news,  sir ! '  said  the  man  ; 
'  you  can't  know  that  Mrs.  DeGrey 
and  her  son  were  lost,  a  month  after 
the  master  died  ? '  I  must  have  ask- 
ed him  some  questions,  though  I 
have  no  idea  what  they  were.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  I  was  going  mad 
as  the  man  told  me  of  your  flight, 
and  of  the  search  made  by  poor  Fa- 
bean  and  Victor  for  you.  'You 
seem  all  struck  of  a  heap,'  said  the 
man,  in  conclusion,  '  and  surely 
'twas  a  dreadful  thing.  She  seemed 
crazed  like,  did  missus,  after  her 
husband's  death,  and  drowned  the 
boy  and  herself,  I  make  no  doubt. 
But  no  body  das'nt  say  that  to  the 
family,  though  they  must  think  it 
themselves.  I  am  feared  that  the 
house  that  they're  always  a  airin'  and 
dustin'  for  her  will  fall  about  our  ears 
before  either  the  widow  or  her  child 
come  back  to  claim  it. ' " 

Miss  Holmes  listened  entranced  to 
her  cousin's  words,  and  her  own  eyes 
filled  as  she  saw  the  tears  coursing 
down  La  Guerita's  white  cheeks. 

' '  I  don't  know  how  I  moved  from 
that  spot,  La  Guerita,  or  reached  my 
hotel/'  continued  Leveredge,  "but I 
remember  that  the  first  thing  I  saw  on 
entering  my  room  was  a  brace  of  pis- 
tols. I  took  them  in  my  hand  ;  the 
charges  had  been  withdrawn — if  not, 
upon  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  I 
should  have  shot  myself.  I  believe 
that  I  was  mad  that  night.  I  went 
down  to  the  shore  and  walked  up  and 
down,  cursing  the  hour  that  I  was 
born,  or  upon  which  I  first  saw  you. 
La  Guerita,  I  had  done  worse  than 
murder  for  you,  and  then — then  all 
seemed  lost ! 

"La  Guerita,  'twas  love  for  you 


that  had  taken  me  back,  not  remorse, 
as  I  had  fancied.  Ah,  you  should 
have  been  my  wife  !  You  know  it ! 
you  know  it !  " 

"I  should  have  been  no  man's 
wife, "  she  said,  weeping  still. 

"Yes,  La  Guerita,  you  should 
have  been  mine.  DeGrey  was  not 
worthy  of  you — I  knew  that  from  the 
first ;  but  I  misjudged  him  even  then, 
for  I  thought  his  pride  would  triumph 
over  his  love,  and  that  he  would  put 
you  away  from  him  when  he  knew 
your  birth.  After  that,  La  Guerita, 
if  indeed  he  did  not  at  first,  I  meant 
by  threats  of  public  exposure  to  make 
him  divorce  you,  and  then,  La  Gue- 
rita, how  proudly  would  I  have  ele- 
vated you  to  your  right  standard  again, 
for  I  would  have  married  you  in  spite 
of  all." 

La  Guerita  looked  at  him  scorn- 
fully. ' '  My  husband  died  before  he 
dreamed  of  abasing  me,"  she  said. 
' '  Claim  no  credit  for  magnanimity  or 
knowledge  of  human  nature  either. 
Oh,  how  shallow  was  your  plot  !  % 
Harold  would  have  protected  me, 
have  loved  me,  in  spite  of  public 
scorn,  if  he  had  been  possessed  of 
physical  strength  to  withstand  your 
fatal  letter.  He  would  never  have 
repudiated  me,  and  if  he  had,  do  you 
think  I  should  have  turned  to  you 
for  comfort  ? " 

' '  It  matters  not  now  what  I 
thought,"  returned  Claude  Lever- 
edge,  gloomily.  "Enough  that  all 
my  plans  failed.  I  gave  up  all  hope 
of  them  when  I  heard  that  DeGrey 
was  dead.  I  would  have  given  worlds 
then  to  have  recalled  what  you  call 
my  fatal  letter.  I  determined  to  save 
you,  if  possible,  from  its  perusal. 
For  some  reason  I  had  the  idea  that 


In  Bonds. 


it  had  been  placed  in  the  library.  I 
crept  in  at  the  window  and  broke 
open  the  secretary.  You  entered  the 
room,  and,  unable  to  face  you,  I  fled. 
You  closed  and  barred  the  windows, 
and  I  walked  up  and  down  beneath 
them  in  agony,  knowing  that  you 
were  reading  the  accursed  words.  I 
would  have  given  my  life  to  have 
spared  you.  In  the  morning  I  heard 
that  you  were  in  a  raging  fever,  and 
later,  that  you  could  not  live.  I  came 
South  with  the  haste  and  fury  of  a 
madman — I  was  little  else  then — and 
finding  no  peace,  I  ordered  everything 
to  be  sold  and  sailed  for  Europe, 
without  going  to  Ellisville,  because  I 
thought  that  you  were  surely  dead, 
and  that  it  would  kill  me  to  hear  it. 
Almost  the  first  person  I  met  in  Liv- 
erpool was  your  brother  Fabean.  He 
had  heard  of  DeGrey's  death,  and 
anxious  to  hear  of  you  from  any 
source,  questioned  me.  I  thought 
the  very  sound  of  your  name  would 
kill  me  !  I  wonder  Fabean  did  not 
see  my  horror  and  remorse,  but  he 
was  always  an  easy  fellow  and  was 
more  overcome  by  his  own  emotions 
than  mine.  I  meant  to  go  to  Italy, 
and  live  in  the  strictest  seclusion, 
but  something  took  me  to  France  in- 
stead. I  threw  myself  into  the  vortex 
of  Parisian  dissipation,  and  for  a  time 
drowned,  though  I  could  not  destroy, 
my  agonies  of  passion  and  remorse. 
Then  reverses  came.  I  awoke  to  a 
sense  of  what  I  had  done.  I  was 
maddened  again,  and  although  my 
luck  returned,  my  stupor  of  mind  did 
not,  but  I  lost  my  remorse  and  hope 
arose  within  me.  Each  day  my 
wealth  increased.  To  leave  Paris  was 
to  stamp  myself  a  villain,  but  nothing 
could  hold  me  back.  I  was  posses- 


sed with  the  idea  that  you  lived,  and 
I  was  resolved  once  more  to  see  you. 
I  took  passage  for  New  York,  and 
thence  hastened  to  Ellisville,  where, 
as  I  have  told  you,  I  heard  the  news 
of  your  supposed  death.  I  stayed 
in  Ellisville — half  mad,  I  think — for 
more  than  a  month,  haunting  the 
places  you  had  frequented.  I  kept 
myself  aloof  from  every  one,  although 
there  was  no  one  there  whom  I  really 
feared  to  meet,  for  Fabean  had  already 
entered  the  army,  and  Victor  was  with 
his  mother  in  Philadelphia.  They 
say  the  old  lady  has  never  recovered 
from  the  shock  of  your  flight.  I 
heard  they  were  fighting  here,  and  in 
utter  desperation  I  decided  to  come 
and  help  the  South.  Not  that  I  cared 
for  the  cause  ;  that  was  nothing  to 
me.  Excitement  was  all  I  craved, 
and  there  was  something  that  warned 
me  from  Paris,  so  I  hastened  here, 
swearing  to  lose  my  life  in  my  first 
battle.  With  that  resolve  I  entered 
these  gates  last  night ;  that  was  in  my 
heart  when  you  entered  the  room  and 
saved  me.  Great  God  !  I  never  can 
describe  what  I  felt  when  I  saw  you. 
I  think  at  that  moment,  so  great  was 
the  bliss  of  knowing  you  to  be  alive, 
that  if  you  had  been  spirited  away  I 
could  have  been  content  to  resign  you 
forever ;  but  now,  La  Guerita,  that  I 
have  had  time  to  think  I  know  that 
but  one  thing  will  satisfy  me.  You 
must  be  my  wife  !  " 

Miss  Holmes  started  in  amazement. 
She  had  not  dreamed  he  would  have 
uttered  those  words.  She  could 
scarcely  repress  an  exclamation  as 
she  saw  him  bend  a  searching  glance 
on  La  Guerita,  and  entreat  her  to  an- 
swer him.  But  she  would  neither 
look  up  nor  answer  him,  and  he  al- 


132 


In  Bonds. 


most  whispered  :  "I  want  you  to 
think  of  it.  It  is  your  only  chance 
for  freedom,  and  you  must  be  free/' 

' '  Not  at  that  price, "  she  answered, 
proudly. 

' '  You  will  remember  that  DeGrey 
was  weak  and  my  temptation  great, " 
he  said,  imploringly. 

' '  Yes,  I  will  remember  that, "  she 
answered,  bitterly. 

' '  And  that  I  never  meant  it  to  fall 
so  hard  upon  DeGrey." 

' '  Yes,  I  will  remember  that  also. 
I  will  remember  that  you  meant  the 
greatest  insult  and  the  greatest  agony 
to  fall  upon  me." 

"And  the  greatest  triumph,"  he 
returned  eagerly  ;  ' '  the  greatest  tri- 
umph, too  !  " 

"Was  it  for  that  you  attempted  to 
abduct  my  boy  ?  "  she  demanded,  as 
if  struck  by  a  sudden  thought ;  ' '  did 
you  intend  to  hold  him  as  a  hostage 
for  me  ? " 

' '  Never  mind  now  what  I  thought, " 
he  answered,  surlily  ;  ' '  that  fellow 
frustrated  me,  and  gained  ample  re- 
venge for  the  slight  harm  I  had  done 
him,  as  if  I  would  have  hesitated  to 
have  put  a  dozen  such  out  of  the 
world  if  they  had  threatened,  how- 
ever innocently,  interference  with  my 
plans. " 

"How  did  he  do  that?" 

' '  'Tis  not  worth  explaining  now, 
but  listen  well  while  I  tell  you  that 
your  freedom  and  that  of  your  son 
both  depend  upon  your  becoming 
my  wife,  and  returning  to  the  position 
you  have  forfeited." 

"I  care  not  for  that !" 

' '  Perhaps  not,  but  you  hate  these 
bonds." 

"  I  do  hate  them  ! "  she  cried,  pas- 
sionately ;  "  I  hate  them  as  the  proofs 


of  sin  and  madness.  But  for  you,  I 
believe  they  would  have  fallen  from 
me  to-day.  It  was  by  your  influ- 
ence that  Norton  Holmes  denied  my 
prayer. " 

"I  don't  deny  it,"  he  answered, 
quietly ;  "it  was  through  my  influ- 
ence. But  believe  me  my  object  was 
as  much  a  desire  to  save  you  from  the 
shame  that  must  attend  your  return 
to  Ellisville  as  to  keep  you  near  me, 
though  what  man  would  willingly 
lose  sight  of  the  woman  he  loves? 
La  Guerita,  think  you  that  after  your 
wild,  almost  incomprehensible,  con- 
duct, you  will  be  received  as  a  sane 
person  in  Ellisville  ?  Your  best  friends 
will  have  to  shut  their  eyes  to  avoid 
beholding  either  sin  or  madness,  and 
the  thousand  tongues  of  slander  will 
blazon  abroad  your  story,  and  tell  how 
your  retreat  in  sorrow  was  the  home 
of  your  former  lover.  I  know  that  a 
mad  desire  to  fly  from  all  persons  and 
places  that  you  had  known  in  your 
happiness,  that  could  scorn  you  in 
your  shame,  actuated  you  in  your 
flight,  and  also  a  wild  thought  that 
you  would  confront  and  denounce 
the  authors  of  your  misery.  Unfor- 
tunately for  you,  your  mother  alone 
remained.  Poor  uncle  Acton  would 
have  saved  you  if  he  had  lived.  He 
would  have  told  you  that  it  was  for 
him  to  make  atonement,  and  would 
have  sent  you  back  to  freedom,  pos- 
sibly to  quiet  happiness.  But  it  is 
too  late  for  that  now.  You  cannot, 
dare  not,  return  to  Ellisville.  La 
Guerita,  dare  you  face  the  court  that 
would  decree  you  worse  than  mad — 
vile,  depraved  ? " 

' '  Say  no  more, "  cried  La  Guerita, 
warningly.  "I  will  hear  no  more  ; 
I  will  not  even  think  of  what  you 


In  Bonds. 


133 


have  already  said."  But  the  trem- 
bling of  her  lips  as  she  spoke  betrayed 
how  deeply  he  had  wounded  her,  and 
how  well  she  knew  she  might  find  his 
words  true. 

' '  I  will  say  no  more, "  he  returned, 
gently,  ' '  except  that  there  is  a  way 
for  you  to  escape  all  that  La  Gue- 
rita,  I  love  you  !  I  will  make  you  my 
wife.  Come  with  me  !  " 

' '  Never  !  "  she  cried,  striving  to 
escape  from  his  grasp.  ' '  Let  me  go ; 
for  God's  sake  let  me  go  !  " 

' '  Not  until  you  promise  to  think 
of  what  I  have  said, "  he  returned  ; 
' '  not  until  you  promise  to  remember 
that  your  freedom,  and  your  child's, 
depends  upon  your  marriage  with 
me." 

' '  I  know  it,  I  know  it !  "  she 
gasped  ;  I  will  think  of  it  all !  Let 
me  go  ! " 

He  released  her  hands  and  she 
staggered  back  from  him  in  a  blind, 
despairing  way.  The  hedge  of  roses 
barred  her  back  ;  she  looked  around 
a  moment  wildly,  then  rushed  by 
Claude  Leveredge,  who  with  folded 
arms  stood  in  the  center  of  the  plat, 
triumphantly  regarding  her.  He 
drew  a  deep  sigh  of  relief  when  she 
was  gone,  and  presently  began  to 
move  about  the  inclosure  in  a  rest- 
less manner.  He  lighted  a  cigar  as 
if  from  mere  force  of  habit,  throwing 
the  burning  match  over  the  hedge  of 
roses.  It  fell  so  close  to  his  cousin 
that  she  started  back,  and  the  boughs 
rustled  loudly  behind  her.  So  in- 
tently had  she  listened  to  the  conver- 
sation between  her  cousin  and  La 
Guerita  DeCuba,  and  had  felt  so  much 
astonished  thereat,  that  she  had  totally 
forgotten  her  position  until  aroused 
by  her  cousin's  abrupt  movements. 


"  He  will  be  coming  out  directly," 
she  said  to  herself,  "and  it  will  never 
do  for  him  to  find  me  here.  Can  I 
creep  upon  this  thick  grass  to  the  fur- 
ther path,  I  wonder  ?  Yes,  he  is  too 
much  absorbed  in  thought  to  notice 
the  slight  noise  that  I  may  make. " 

She  crept  slowly  by  the  circle  of 
roses  and  gained  the  path  she  sought, 
then  rising  to  her  feet  cautiously 
glanced  at  her  cousin,  who  was  still 
standing  within  the  inclosure,  with 
his  face  in  the  direction  that  had  been 
taken  by  La  Guerita.  Following  her 
first  impulse  Miss  Holmes  turned  in- 
to another  path,  and  by  a  circuitous 
route  reached  the  cabin. 

She  stood  for  a  moment  upon  the 
steps  before  knocking  at  the  door, 
and  she  heard  a  cry  of  passionate 
despair  : 

"Oh,  if  I  had  but  one  friend  to 
help  me  !  But  one  friend,  my 
God  ! " 

Miss  Holmes  threw  open  the  door 
and  rushed  in,  crying  :  ' '  Oh,  Rita, 
you  have  a  friend  !  You  have,  in- 
deed !  " 

La  Guerita  looked  at  her  in  amaze- 
ment that  for  a  moment  destroyed  all 
other  emotions,  while  Miss  Holmes 
threw  her  arms  around  her  and  burst 
into  tears. 

She  comprehended  all  then,  and 
her  amazement  was  changed  to  joy 
too  deep  for  words.  She  bowed  her 
head  on  the  shoulder  of  her  mistress — 
they  wept  together. 

"There,  there,  don't  let  us  cry," 
said  Miss  Holmes,  at  last,  in  her  usual 
decisive  manner.  "  Try  to  compose 
yourself  and  tell  me  your  sad  story. 
I  have  heard  it  all  before,  but  I  could 
not  believe  it  until  to-night.  And 
just  think  how,  in  consequence,  I 


In  Bonds. 


have  persecuted  you.     How  could 
you  bear  it  so  calmly  ? " 

' '  I  don't  know, "  said  La  Guerita, 
' '  except  because  all  my  powers  of 
resistance  were  gone.  But,  Miss 
Adela,  don't  reproach  yourself  with 
unkindness  toward  me.  That  first 
awoke  some  of  my  olden  spirit,  and 
aroused  me  from  the  almost  idiotic 
state  in  which  I  entered  Holmsford. 
Indeed,  Miss  Adela,  I  thank  you  for 
even  arousing  my  resentment. " 

"Don't  thank  me,"  cried  Miss 
Holmes,  impulsively,  "for  I  acted 
only  from  the  most  despicable  mo- 
tives. I  don't  think  I  ever  was 
ashamed  of  myself  in  my  life  before, 
but  I  am  so  most  thoroughly  now. " 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that,  Miss  Adela." 

' '  I  must  say  so.  I  am  thoroughly 
humbled.  I  have  prided  myself  up- 
on my  judgment  all  my  life,  and  now 
I  must  own  myself  at  fault  in  every 
particular.  Why,  Rita,  I  have  be- 
lieved you  the  most  designing  and  the 
basest  of  women,  simply  because  I 
could  not  understand  the  agony  of 
grief  and  shame  that  seized  upon  your 
shrinking  soul. " 

"Miss  Adela  how  could  you  un- 
derstand it?  I  myself  can  scarcely 
now  understand  how  I  was  led  to  the 
maddest  of  deeds — self-enslavement. 
You  have  heard  my  tale,  you  say,  but 
it  has  never  been  but  partly  told. 
You  shall  hear  it  all.  Had  you  heard 
it  from  my  own  lips  at  first  you  would 
have  known  me  true. " 

"Don't  try  to  excuse  my  blind- 
ness, "  exclaimed  Miss  Holmes.  '  *  It 
was  willful,  purely  willful !  Even  aunt 
Matilda  believed  the  tale  Asenith 
Bray  told  her,  but  I  could  not,  would 
not  understand.  I  could  not  com- 
prehend why  you  should  come  here. 


I  learned  that  by  one  word  from 
Claude  to-night,  and  in  five  minutes 
I  learned  the  whole  plot  from  begin- 
ning to  end." 

"God  is  indeed  good  to  me!" 
exclaimed  La  Guerita,  joyfully.  '  'Ah, 
Miss  Adela,  how  blessed  I  was  that 
you  were  near  to  hear  the  conversa- 
tion, for  if  ever  I  needed  a  friend  it  is 
at  present." 

'  'And  you  shall  have  one, "  returned 
Miss  Holmes,  emphatically;  "you 
shall  see,  La  Guerita,  that  I  can  love 
as  firmly  as  I  can  hate,  and  that  I  will 
serve  you  a  thousand  times  more 
readily  than  I  have  persecuted  you. 
It  is  well  for  me  that  you  are  in 
trouble,  La  Guerita,  for  if  I  was  not 
sure  of  being  able  to  compensate,  in 
part,  at  least,  for  the  pain  I  have  given 
you,  I  should  be  ashamed  to  look  in 
a  mirror,  or  own  the  face  it  reflects. " 

La  Guerita  smiled,  and  Miss 
Holmes  continued  :  "I  am  going 
away  now  ;  if  I  stay  longer  my  ab- 
sence will  be  noticed,  and  Claude 
must  on  no  account  suspect  that  I  am 
your  ally.  Do  you  put  Harry  to  bed, 
and  when  he  is  asleep  I  will  steal  an 
opportunity  to  come  and  hear  your 
sad  story.  You  will  trust  me  with  it, 
will  you  not  ? " 

"I  will  tell  you  everything,"  re- 
turned La  Guerita,  readily,  yet  in  a 
voice  of  deep  emotion,  ' '  and  although 
I  have  sinned  I  hope  you  will  find 
excuse  for  me,  as  I  hope  also  will  He 
whom  I  cursed  in  my  madness." 

Miss  Holmes  listened  with  a  grave 
and  pitying  face,  and  then  unbolted 
the  door  and  passed  into  the  garden, 
leaving  La  Guerita  to  pour  forth  her 
gratitude  and  joy  to  Him  who  alone 
could  fathom  their  depths. 

Miss   Holmes  joined    the  group 


In  Bonds. 


upon  the  piazza  but  a  few  moments 
after  Mr.  Leveredge  returned  from  his 
walk. 

' '  Have  you  been  in  the  garden  ? " 
he  asked,  in  a  voice  of  some  appre- 
hension. 

' '  Yes, "  she  returned,  carelessly  ; 
c '  I  went  to  look  for  you.  Your  old 
uncle  George  is  bed-ridden,  but  has 
not  forgotten  you,  and  I  intended  to 
ask  you  to  go  with  me  to  see  him. " 

' '  I  suppose  it  is  too  late  now ;  I'll 
go  to-morrow, "  he  returned ;  but  I 
fear  you  did'nt  look  for  me  very 
closely,  though  that  garden  of  yours 
is  a  place  to  get  lost  in.  By  the  way, 
Adela,  I  have  some  choice  foreign 
seeds  for  you." 

Thank  you,  Claude,  though  I  really 
have  but  little  time  for  gardening 
now.  Papa,  do  you  know  Mr.  Gor- 
don says  the  war  is  going  to  last  long 
enough  to  make  it  necessary  for  me 
to  learn  to  spin  and  weave  ? " 

' '  I  wonder  if  he  supposes  you  will 
ever  wear  homespun  ? "  asked  her 
cousin,  laughingly. 

' '  Some  of  the  wealthiest  ladies  in 
the  country  are  already  doing  so," 
said  Mr.  Holmes. 

' '  Yes,  from  principle, "  said  Miss 
Matilda  ;  ' '  like  the  graduates  at 
Foustville  last  week,  looking  like 
perfect  'guys/  in  their  checks.  I 
asked  them  how  they  happened  to 
trim  them  with  Yankee  buttons, 
and  have  them  sewed  with  Yankee 
thread. " 

Claude  laughed,  and  then  said, 
gravely:  "Good  heavens,  what 
changes  a  few  short  months  have 
wrought ! " 

"  Ah,  yes,  yes  !  "  acquiesced  Mr. 
Holmes,  and  then  began  a  conver- 
sation with  his  wife  upon  the  changes 


which  had  taken  place  in  the  neigh- 
borhood since  the  war.  His  nephew 
paced  the  piazza,  apparently  deeply 
interested  in  the  conversation,  but 
saying  but  little,  while -Miss  Holmes 
listlessly  watched  him.  At  last  she 
arose,  said  ' '  Good-night !  "  and  en- 
tered the  house.  Each  accepted  this 
as  a  signal  to  retire  ;  and  at  an  unu- 
sually early  hour  all  left  the  piazza. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  nearly 
two  hours  later  that  the  light  disap- 
peared from  Claude  Leveredge's  win- 
dow, and  that  his  cousin  felt  it  safe 
to  venture  to  La  Guerita's  cabin. 

Then,  throwing  on  a  dark  dressing- 
gown,  she  glided  softly  through  the 
house  and  across  the  garden.  She 
found  La  Guerita  sitting  at  the  door, 
and  after  exchanging  a  word  of  greet- 
ing they  entered  the  room  together, 
and  sat  down  in  the  wide  bar  of 
moonlight  that  lay  across  the  floor. 
There,  half  kneeling  before  Miss 
Holmes,  La  Guerita  told  her  tale. 

It  was  soon  told  ;  but  not  so  soon 
were  Adela's  tears  dried.  She  said 
but  little,  save  to  express  her  sorrow 
and  remorse.  ' '  How  you  must  have 
loved  him  !  "  she  exclaimed,  when 
La  Guerita  showed  her  the  portrait 
of  her  husband.  ' '  Ah  !  La  Guerita, 
I  can  understand  your  love,  though  I 
still  cannot  the  madness  that  followed 
it ;  for,  my  poor  child,  it  is  strange 
you  did  not  remember  that  the  acci- 
dent of  birth  could  in  no  way  black- 
en your  fair  name. " 

"Oh,  it  was  terrible!  terrible!" 
murmured  La  Guerita  ;  ' '  think  of 
the  power  that  it  gave  your  cousin 
over  me  ;  that  it  gives  him  now. " 

' '  It  gave  him  not  an  atom  ! "  cried 
Miss  Holmes,  excitedly;  "but  now 
— now,  that  you  are  a  slave,  it  gives 


136 


In   Bonds. 


him  every  power.  How  shall  we 
wrest  it  from  him  ?  "  Oh,  Heaven, 
how  can  we  save  you  ? " 

' '  Oh,  if  my  brother  were  here  !  " 
sighed  La  Guerita. 

' '  I  do  not  not  see  that  his  pres- 
ence would  be  of  the  slightest  use  at 
present.  He  is  of  the  proscribed 
race  himself.  The  moment  he  set 
foot  upon  the  soil  of  North  Carolina, 
Claude  would  declare  him  a  slave, 
and  the  State  would  claim  him  as 
such." 

' '  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  La  Gu- 
erita, in  a  tone  of  such  surprise  that 
Miss  Holmes  hastened  to  explain. 

' '  My  father  told  me, "  she  said, 
"when  he  consented  to  become  your 
master,  that  your  residence  in  a  free 
State  alone  gave  you  freedom,  and 
that  when  you  returned  to  North 
Carolina  the  State  would  have  claim- 
ed you  had  he  not  taken  you  under 
his  protection." 

"Then  Mr.  Holmes  forgot  to  tell 
you  that  my  father  emancipated  me 
by  process  of  law,  as  a  dozen  or  more 
of  his  other  slaves  were  emancipated. 
Mr.  Gordon  holds  my  papers ;  my 
brother's  are  in  my  mother's  hands. 
No  will  save  our  own  could  make  us 
slaves. " 

Miss  Holmes  paced  the  floor  in 
great  anger  and  excitement.  ' '  I  have 
been  deceived  altogether  in  this  mat- 
ter, "  she  said,  indignantly ;  "I  was 
led  to  believe  that  my  father  took  you 
from  pure  charity,  and  in  order  that 
you  might  be  spared  the  ignominy  of 
a  public  sale  ;  and  now  I  must  bear 
the  shame  of  knowing  that  he  forged 
bonds  for  you. " 

"No,  no  ;  I  did  that  myself,"  be- 
gan La  Guerita,  but  Miss  Holmes 
impulsively  interrupted  her. 


' '  Nonsense  !  you  were  a  mad  wo- 
man, and  should  have  been  controll- 
ed, or  humanely  delivered.  Oh,  dear, 
dear  !  I  believe  my  whole  life  has 
been  a  failure  ;  for  its  chief  aim  has 
been  to  persuade  my  father  of  the 
evils  of  slaver}-.  I  thought  I  had 
partly  succeeded,  and  I  hated  you  as 
much  for  thwarting  my  abolition 
plans — for  declaring  slavery  a  thing 
to  be  desired — as  I  did  for  the  wick- 
ed plot  I  believed  you  engaged  in. 
I  see  now  that  I  was  wrong  in  sup- 
posing that  I  had  weakened  in  any 
degree  my  father's  pro-slavery  opin- 
ions ;  and  even  if  Claude  Leveredge 
had  not  come,  I  believe  he  would 
still,  at  your  cost,  have  maintained 
his  principles.  It  is  useless  to  hope 
to  move  him,  with  Mr.  Gordon  and 
Claude  both  urging  him  on.  You 
must  depend  upon  God  alone  to  set 
you  free." 

"I  do  !  "  said  La  Guerita,  fervent- 
ly ;  "and,  oh,  Miss  Adela,  I  know 
that  He  who  has  given  me  such  a 
friend  to-night  will  do  still  more. " 

Miss  Holmes  was  silent  for  some 
minutes.  ' '  You  have  many  friends, " 
she  said,  at  length ;  ' '  many  you 
have  not  mentioned  to  me  by  name. 
The  one  that  rescued  Harry  from 
Claude,  for  instance  ;  besides  your 
brother,  and  Victor  DeGrey,  and 
Prof.  Harleigh.  Tis  a  pity  that  your 
brother  must  be  told  all,  poor  fel- 
low ! " 

' f  Ah,  poor  Fabean  !  "  sighed  La 
Guerita  ;  ' '  rather  than  he  should 
surfer  as  I  have  done,  I  would  die  in 
bondage,  were  it  not  for  my  boy. " 

"But  he  must  know  all,"  said 
Miss  Holmes,  decisively,  "and  the 
sooner  he  does  so  the  better.  He 
might  possibly  gain  entrance  to  the 


In  Bonds. 


137 


State  and  effect  your  release  now; 
but  if  there  is  delay,  even  that  slight 
chance  may  be  lost.  It  is  worth  try- 
ing for,  at  any  rate.  You  must  write 
to  him." 

' '  But  I  doubt  if  I  could  send  a 
letter  through  the  post-office,"  said 
La  Guerita,  doubtfully. 

' '  Of  course  you  could  not, "  said 
Miss  Holmes  ;  ' '  your  letter  would 
never  pass  the  public  office.  But  I 
have  a  friend  at  Norfolk,  in  charge  of 
one  of  the  flag-of-truce  boats,  who 
has  offered  to  pass  any  letters  for  me. 
For  once  I  will  trouble  him.  Write 
your  letter  to-morrow,  and  I  will  for- 
ward it,  and  we  will  pray  God  speed 
it  on  its  way. " 

' '  How  can  I  thank  you  ? "  cried 
La  Guerita,  in  a  transport  of  gratitude 
and  delight ;  "you  have  smoothed  all 
my  difficulties  away  in  one  sentence. 
I  feel  already  free  !  " 

"Do  not  be  too  sanguine,"  said 
Miss  Holmes,  smiling  gravely ;  "this 
is  but  our  first  effort  ;  it  may  require 
many  to  accomplish  our  object " 

"Oh,  I  am  full  of  hope  !  "  cried 
La  Guerita  ;  ' '  you  have  strengthen- 
ed me  for  the  contest,  Miss  Adela. 
With  God's  help  I  shall  be  able  to 
resist  Claude  Leveredge  until  success 
comes. " 

She  bent  down  suddenly  and  kissed 
her  sleeping  child.  ' '  See  how  beau- 
tiful he  is !  "  she  exclaimed,  exult- 
antly ;  "oh,  how  proud  they  will  be 
of  him.  It  seems  to  me  now  a  mar- 
vel that  his  sweet  face  did  not  deter 
me  from  my  act  of  madness." 

"Be  calm,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
warningly.  "Go  to  bed  now  and 
try  to  sleep  like  a  rational  creature. 
You  must  husband  your  strength. 
What  would  become  of  you  and 
18 


your  child  if  you  were  to  allow  your 
excitement  to  overcome  you  now. 
Write  your  letter  to-morrow,  and  give 
it  to  me ;  but  be  careful  neither  to 
concentrate  your  mind  upon  your 
hazardous  position,  or  to  show,  by 
your  manner,  that  aught  has  occurred 
to  lessen  its  dangers.  Good  night !  " 
She  left  the  cabin  in  her  usual 
abrupt  manner,  but  stepped  back  to 


say: 


You  must  remember  that  I 


am  a  secret  ally.  It  would  injure 
your  cause  beyond  measure  if  any 
one  should  suspect  that  I  have  es- 
poused it.  Aunt  Matilda  likes  you 
merely  because  she  knew  of  my  aver- 
sion. Unless  you  wish  to  bear  the 
sharpness  of  her  tongue,  you  must 
endure  mine  still. " 

' '  I  can  bear  anything  from  you, " 
returned  La  Guerita,  lightly. 

"There  is  a  light  in  Claude's 
room, "  said  Miss  Holmes ;  ' '  what 
in  the  world  can  he  be  doing  at  this 
time  of  night  ?  His  nerves  are,  prob- 
ably, in  a  disturbed  state.  I  wonder 
how  long  it  will  take  him  to  quiet 
them?" 

It  seemed  to  Miss  Holmes  and  La 
Guerita  an  hour  or  more,  as  they 
stood  in  the  cabin  door  watching  for 
the  light  to  disappear.  Once  Miss 
Holmes  laughed,  softly,  and  then 
said: 

' '  I  cannot  help  laughing,  although, 
indeed,  poor  child,  I  feel  it  a  sin  to 
draw  any  amusement  from  your  sad 
tale — but  I  cannot  help  smiling,  when 
I  think  how  ridiculous  Claude  must 
have  looked  when  that  brave  young 
man  forced  him  to  drop  your  boy 
upon  the  road.  Aunt  Matilda  would 
compare  him  to  the  hawk  that  was 
glad  to  escape  yesterday  from  an  en- 
raged hen,  leaving  his  prey  behind. 


In  Bonds. 


Do  you  know,  I  once  used  to  look 
upon  Claude  as  a  superior  being — 
one  of  those  grand  creatures,  that 
one  reads  of  in  novels,  to  whom  all 
manner  of  eccentricities  seenv  quite 
proper.  I  suppose  that  was  because 
he  was  dark  and  somewhat  sullen, 
and  much  given  to  quoting  choice 
scraps  of  poetry  on  occasions  when 
others  would  find  it  difficult  to  ex- 
press themselves  in  the  plainest 
prose.  Altogether,  he  used  to  be- 
wilder me. " 

"And  me,  also,"  returned  La 
Guerita ;  ' '  his  influence  was,  indeed, 
unlimited  over  me,  until  he  went  to 
Europe.  It  seemed  a  species  of  mes- 
merism. He  caused  me  to  act,  with- 
out leaving  me  power  to  exercise  any  . 
will  of  my  own. " 

Miss  Holmes  mused  for  some  mo- 
ments, saying,  at  last :  ' '  What  a 
strange  story  you  have  told  me.  Do 
you  know  how  it  would  end  in  a 
novel?  You  would  rebel  against, 
and  strive  with,  and  weep  over,  this 
strange  spirit,  and  end  in  discovering 
that  you  had  always  loved  him. " 

La  Guerita  turned  pale,  but  said  : 
"That  with  me  is  impossible,  for  I 
have  loved  another.  I  am  a  widow, 
not  a  romantic  maiden.  I  am  the 
widow  of  the  man  he  murdered — 
the  mother  of  the  child  he  made  an 
orphan,  and  my  work  is  to  protect 
him  ;  not  to  strive  for  the  life  or  the 
soul  of  Claude  Leveredge. " 

Miss  Holmes  strove  to  soothe  her, 
grieved,  yet  re-assured  by  her  words  ; 
for  through  all  she  had  not  been  able 
to  rid  herself  of  the  fear  that  there 
might  be  some  spark  of  love  for  her 
cousin  smoldering  in  the  depths  of 
the  woman's  insulted  soul ;  but  then 
she  was  satisfied. 


' '  I  am  getting  dreadfully  sleepy, " 
she  said ;  "I  wish  Claude  was.  Ah, 
Jthere  goes  the  light  at  last.  Now  for 
my  run  home  !  " 

She  glided  swiftly  across  the  gar- 
den, and  La  Guerita  soon  learned 
that  she  had  safely  gained  her  room, 
by  the  light  that  for  a  moment  illu- 
mined its.  windows.  "God  bless 
her  !  "  she  whispered,  softly  ;  ' '  God 
bless  her  noble  heart !  " 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

"The  mechanic  who  would  perfect  his  work 
must  first  sharpen  his  tools.1' 

Confucius. 

THE  letters  to  Fabean  and  Victor 
DeGrey  were  not  completed  until  late 
the  following  night,  for  though  her 
tale  could  be  told  in  a  few  words,  it 
was  difficult  for  La  Guerita  to  choose 
them  so  as  to  express  clearly  why  she 
entered  into  slavery,  and  the  necessity 
which  existed  for  her  immediate  re- 
lease therefrom.  At  last  the  task  was 
completed  ;  the  letters  were  addressed 
and  under  cover  to  the  officer  at  Nor- 
•folk  dispatched  on  their  way,  and 
then,  as  Miss  Holmes  said,  nothing 
more  could  be  done  but  to  await  the 
result  patiently. 

This  proved  more  easy  than  La 
Guerita  at  first  supposed  possible,  for 
after  the  interview  in  the  garden 
Claude  Leveredge  refrained  from  in- 
truding himself  upon  her,  though  he 
usually  passed  each  morning  at  the 
school-room  window  to  chat  a  few 
minutes  with  the  children.  True, 
the  words  that  he  then  spoke  with 
apparent  carelessness  were  often  full 
of  significance  to  her,  but  in  her  strong 
hope  of  speedy  succor  she  bore  all  his 
covert  prayers  and  threatenings  with 


In  Bonds. 


'39 


an  equanimity  that  equally  surprised 
and  baffled  him. 

Still,  with  all  her  faith,  the  suspense 
each  day  grew  harder  to  bear.  Fears 
would  enter  her  mind  that  the  letters 
might  fail  to  reach  their  destination, 
that  her  brother  might  delay  in  com- 
ing, or  that  in  indignation  at  her 
conduct  her  friends  might  suffer  her 
to  remain  in  the  position  she  had 
chosen,  or  might  even  choose  to  let 
her  and  her  child  die  in  slavery  rather 
than  blazon  her  history  abroad  and  de- 
clare her  origin.  These  last  thoughts 
she  dismissed  as  insulting  to  the  noble 
heart  of  her  brother,  yet  they  would 
return,  and  they  haunted  her  with  ter- 
rible pertinacity  and  filled  her  soul 
with  terror  as  she  saw  that  Claude 
Leveredge  had  no  idea  of  giving  up 
his  object,  or  even  of  leaving  Holms- 
ford. 

A  few  days  after  his  arrival  there 
he  spoke  of  refitting  his  own  house. 

' l  Indeed,  Claude,  you  should  do 
no  such  thing, "  said  his  uncle.  ' '  I 
suppose  you  will  go  into  the  army  as 
soon  as  you  decide  upon  which 
branch  of  the  service  will  best  suit 
you?" 

' '  Oh,  of  course, "  he  replied,  care- 
lessly. 

' '  Then  what  is  the  use  of  fitting  up 
a  house  that  you  are  not  going  to  live 
in  ?  It  would  be  a  different  thing  if 
you  had  a  wife  to  leave  in  it.  No, 
no  ;  save  your  money  for  the  war.  It 
will  be  sure  to  be  needed,  and  you 
will  be  able  to  do  far  more  good  with 
it  than  by  buying  furniture  and  ser- 
vants at  the  present  ruinous  prices. 
You  know  you  are  always  welcome 
here/" 

"Indeed,  yes,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Holmes.  "It  would  be  quite  de- 


lightful to  have  you  here  on  a  furlough 
if  you  should  be  wounded  or  any- 
thing, you  know  !  " 

"Delightful!"  echoed  Claude, 
laughing,  and  after  that  it  was  gen- 
erally understood  that  his  house  was 
to  remain  in  a  dismantled  state  until 
after  the  war,  and  that  he  was  imme- 
diately to  enter  the  army. 

But  though  enlistment  was  in  active 
progress  throughout  the  country,  and 
though  Claude  Leveredge  appeared 
most  deeply  interested  in  the  politics 
of  the  day,  he  made  no  movement  to 
join  the  army,  although  it  required 
infinite  tact  not  to  do  so  and  still  re- 
tain his  reputation  for  loyalty  and 
braver)-.  But  although  his  conduct 
gave  great  dissatisfaction,  he  managed 
still  to  retain  the  faith  of  his  friends 
and  the  community  at  large,  taking 
no  notice  of  any  hints  or  inuendoes, 
but  spending  his  time  very  quietly  in 
riding  over  his  uncle's  plantation  and 
his  own  few  acres,  and  in  the  perusal 
of  the  papers. 

He  was  engaged  in  the  latter  occu- 
pation one  afternoon  about  six  weeks 
after  his  return  to  Holmsford,  when 
Miss  Matilda  approached  the  piazza 
upon  which  he  was  sitting,  carrying 
in  her  hand  a  little  chicken,  upon 
which  she  was  looking  with  great 
solicitude. 

"What  is  the  matter,  aunt  Matil- 
da ? "  he  asked. 

"  Matter  enough,  I  should  think  !" 
she  returned,  spitefully ;  ' '  that  out- 
rageous old  gobbler,  General  McClel- 
lan  has  been  beatin'  Dixie  again.  I 
declare  the  poor  thing  can  never  have 
a  bit  of  peace  !  " 

' '  And  what,  may  I  inquire,  bears 
the  honorable  title  of  Dixie?"  in- 
quired, Claude,  with  mock  gravity. 


140 


In  Bonds. 


' '  Why  this  chicken  does  ! "  replied 
Miss  Matilda.  "He  broke  his  leg 
nearly  a  month  ago  ;  you  see  now  it 
is  all  twisted,  and  turned  straight  out 
from  his  body. " 

' '  Why  didn't  you  have  it  killed, 
aunt  Matilda  ? " 

"Killed?  Well  that  is  just  what 
might  be  expected  of  you,  Claude. 
You  never  did  have  the  least  idea  of 
economy.  Why  the  poor  creature 
wasn't  nigh  big  enough  to  eat,  and  so 
I  told  them  all  the  time.  I  do  believe 
if  it  wasn't  for  me  Norton  Holmes 
would  be  a  pauper  in  six  months. 
Law  me,  there's  chickens  enough  die 
in  this  place  without  having  them  will- 
fully killed  just  for  a  broken  leg. " 

"But  I  don't  see  what  use  the 
creature  will  ever  be, "  said  Claude  ; 
' '  it  will  surely  never  grow  any  more. " 

* '  That  is  just  what  all  the  rest  of 
them  said ;  but  I  put  his  leg  in 
splints,  though  the  creetur  is  always 
a  knocking  them  off,  and  I  said  that 
if  he  never  grew  big  enough  to  be 
eaten,  he  would  make  a  first-rate 
Confederate  gauge. " 

' '  Confederate  gauge  !  "  ejaculated 
Claude,  much  to  Miss  Matilda's  indig- 
nation, bursting  into  a  hearty  laugh. 
' '  What  in  the  world  do  you  mean  by 
that?" 

' '  Just  what  I  say, "  she  responded, 
tartly ;  "I  tied  his  leg  in  splints  and 
called  him  Dixie,  and  I  just  watch 
him  close  and  when  I  see  him  kick 
his  splints  off  and  droop  down,  I  say 
to  myself,  '  You  stand  a  mighty  poor 
chance,  Confederacy  ;'  but  when  his 
splints  are  on  all  right,  and  he  fights 
for  his  corn  with  the  best  of  them,  I 
say,  '  Ah,  ah,  United  States,  you  had 
better  be  lookin'  out  for  your  laurels 
now ! ' " 


' '  Well,  well,  if  that  isn't  a  funny 
idea, "  laughed  Claude  ;  ' '  and  how  is 
Dixie  getting  on  now,  aunt  Matilda  ?' 

' '  Mighty  bad, "  she  returned,  curt- 
ly ;  "  all  the  splints  off  his  leg  and 
one  eye  pecked  out." 

"  Illustrative  of  to-day's  news," 
commented  Claude.  "The  C.  A. 
has  met  a  repulse  at  Harper's  Ferry ; 
rallied  again,  however — it  will  be 
proved  to  the  people  a  victory  next. 
Dixie  has  got  his  splints  on  again,  I 
see." 

"Yes,"  retorted  Miss  Matilda, 
' '  and  his  spurs  are  growing,  too.  I 
heard  Will.  Russell  say  the  other  day 
that  some  folks  would  let  their's  grow 
rusty  from  want  of  use. " 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,"  returned 
Claude,  indifferently  ;  "  it  is  still  too 
warm  to  ride  much." 

' '  You  look  like  a  delicate  young 
man,  Claude,"  said  Miss  Matilda, 
ironically ;  "I  reckon  you're  some- 
thing like  George  Ware,  eh  ?  When 
they  wanted  him  to  enlist,  the  poor 
fellow  was  suddenly  seized  with  rheu- 
matism in  his  back.  He  suffered 
powerfully ;  none  of  the  doctors 
could  do  him  a  bit  of  good.  I  sent 
him  a  small,  thin  sheet  of  iron,  and 
told  him  'twas  mighty  good  for  rheu- 
matism, and  if  he  would  apply  it  to 
the  part  affected  he  would  be  relieved 
immediately,  and  be  in  no  danger 
from  bullets  either.  Now,  you'd 
hardly  believe  that  the  young  man 
didn't  appreciate  my  kindness  for  a 
moment,  but  enlisted  the  next  day, 
like  a  fool.  I  wonder  now  if  he 
thinks  that  there's  a  single  chance  of 
that  poor,  weak  chicken  maintaining 
an  independent  existence  ?  " 

' '  Probably  he  has  not  the  honor 
of  an  acquaintance  with  the  illustri- 


In  Bonds. 


141 


ous  fowl, "  returned  Claude  ;  ' '  but, 
by  speaking  of  George  Ware,  you 
remind  me  that  his  cousin  John  has 
taken  arms  on  the  other  side.  He 
joined  a  New  York  regiment  just  as 
I  left  there." 

"  He  did,  eh  ? "  cried  the  old  lady, 
sharply ;  ' '  and  a  pretty  fellow  he  must 
be  to  fight  against  his  own  relations. 
I  always  did  say  he  was  a  triflin',  no- 
account  creetur." 

Claude  laughed,  saying:  "You 
are  the  first  neutral  person  I  have 
met  yet,  aunt ;  you  condemn  both 
George  and  John.  Now,  tell  me, 
which  side  do  you  like  best  ? " 

"One's  just  as  bad  as  the  other," 
she  returned,  excitedly;  "I  can't 
abide  either  abolitionists  or  seces- 
sionists. What  do  they  mean  by 
making  such  a  commotion  in  the 
country  ?  But  I've  seen  this  trouble 
comin'  in  for  a  long,  long  time ;  I 
said  'twould  come  when  I  saw  the 
first  locomotive  tearin'  and  snortin' 
through  the  State.  I  told  'em  it 
looked  like  the  old  Harry,  and 
would  be  doing  his  work  before 
long." 

"Why,  I  don't  see  what  the  rail- 
way can  have  to  do  with  the  war  !  " 
said  Claude,  in  some  surprise. 

"  It's  just  had  everything  to  do  with 
it, "  retorted  Miss  Matilda.  ' '  People 
weren't  careening  all  over  the  country 
before  that;  abolitionists  weren't  a 
comin'  here  preachin'  their  doctrines 
and  makin'  the  slaves  unhappy ;  and 
secessionists  weren't  a  scootin'  North 
with  their's.  I'll  tell  you,  I'd  just 
like  to  have  a  line  stretched  from 
Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
have  those  fellows  strung  up,  one  by 
one. " 

' '  I  think  it  would  be  an  excellent 


plan  of  disposing  of  them, "  acqui- 
esced Claude;  "but  I  should  think 
it  would  hardly  do  for  you  to  make 
such  remarks  publicly." 

' '  I  say  what  I  like  publicly, "  she 
returned,  "and  I  would  just  like  to 
see  anybody  try  to  stop  me  from  do- 
ing it  Ain't  such  things  as  one  con- 
stantly sees  and  hears  enough  to 
make  a  saint  talk  ?  Ah,  me  !  what 
a  pity  it  is  we  can't  go  back  to  good 
old  days,  when  I  was  a  girl.  Folks 
didn't  used  to  talk  about  cutting  each 
other's  throats  for  a  mere  difference 
in  opinion  then ;  and  when  they 
went  to  bed  at  night  they  expected  to 
wake  up  and  find  themselves  in  the 
same  place  in  the  morning.  But, 
for  my  part,  I  never  open  my  eyes 
and  tell  Roxy  to  light  a  fire  or  a  can- 
dle without  waiting  a  few  minutes 
first  to  see  whether  I  haven't  been 
spirited  off  to  a  place  where  it 
wouldn't  be  allowed. " 

"Or  needed," suggested  Claude. 

Miss  Matilda  glanced  at  him  sus- 
piciously, but  found  no  latent  mean- 
ing in  his  smile,  and  she  continued  : 
"Speakin'  of  Roxy,  just  puts  me  in 
mind  that  I've  got  her  to  punish  yet, 
for  hiding  away  that  little  wretch  of 
Rita's  from  me  yesterday.  I  just 
can't  abide  that  child ;  and  there's 
Adela  makes  me  wild,  a  pettin'  and 
fussin'  over  him  all  the  time. " 

"Yes,"  said  Claude,  carelessly, 
' '  he  and  his  mother  are  great  favor- 
ites of  Addie's." 

"No — Rita  isn't,"  said  Miss  Ma- 
tilda, decisively. 

' '  Oh,  now,  Aunt  Matilda,  I  know 
you  are  not  deceived  ;  you  know 
well  enough  that  Rita  is  a  favorite  of 
Adela's, "  returned  Claude,  flattering- 
ly. Not  that  he  believed  one  word 


I42 


In   Bonds. 


of  what  he  was  saying,  but  because 
he  wished  Miss  Matilda  to  do  so. 
' '  Of  course,  you  have  noticed  how 
often  Addie  goes  to  Rita's  cabin,  and 
that  she  has  been  dressing  her  in  the 
prettiest  calicoes  and  most  delicate 
lawns  of  late — and  she  has  looked 
more  beautiful  than  ever/'  he  added, 
sotto  voce. 

"So  she  has  ! "  said  Miss  Matilda, 
suspiciously.  ' '  Um  !  um  !  I  guess 
she  learned  more  than  I  did  six 
weeks  ago.  So,  so ;  that's  the  reason 
I  haven't  seen  her  doing  one  stitch  of 
sewing  for  weeks  past.  Well,  its 
plain  enough  she  has  won  that  stu- 
pid, kind-hearted  Adela  over." 

' '  Well,  I  don't  see  why  she 
shouldn't, "  said  Claude  ;  ' '  she  was 
always  well  enough  in  her  way. " 

' '  And  a  nice  way  that  must  have 
been, "  said  Miss  Matilda,  in  virtuous 
indignation  ;  ' ( I  always  did  think 
that  Rita  the  laziest  and  craftiest 
creetur  in  the  world.  What  in  the 
world  Norton  can  see  in  her  I  can't 
imagine." 

Claude  Leveredge  smoked  his  cigar, 
complacently,  making  no  remarks, 
but  watching  with  great  satisfaction 
the  effect  of  his  few  words. 

' '  There  goes  Roxy  now  to  sweep 
out  her  school-room,"  continued 
Miss  Matilda,  spitefully  ;  "I  always 
said  she  ought  to  be  made  to  do  it 
herself,  and  she  shall,  too.  Here, 
you  Roxy,  tell  Rita  I  want  her. " 

Claude  Leveredge  opened  his  lips 
to  countermand  the  order,  but  paus- 
ed, anxious  to  witness  the  scene  that 
must  ensue,  and  thinking  it  would 
certainly  turn  to  his  advantage.  He 
sank  back  in  his  chair,  and  quietly 
smoked  his  cigar,  while  Roxy  has- 
tened upon  her  errand. 


In  a  short  time  La  Guerita  obeyed 
Miss  Matilda's  summons,  appearing, 
with  down-cast  eyes  before  the  old 
lady  and  her  dreaded  companion. 

' '  I've  just  sent  for  you,  Rita, "  said 
she,  slowly,  ' '  to  tell  you  that  I  am 
not  a  goin'  to  have  you  trifflin' 
around  in  this  way  any  longer.  If 
there's  anything  in  this  world  that  I 
hate  it's  a  lazy  white  nigger,  and  here- 
arter  I'm  not  a  going  to  have  my  girl 
a  waitin'  on  you,  and  you'll  have  to 
sweep  your  school-room  yourself. " 

La  Guerita  was  so  thoroughly  stun- 
ned by  this  attack,  from  one  who 
had  thitherto  stood  her  friend,  and  by 
the  fact  that  she  was  by  it  so  degrad- 
ed, ruthlessly  degraded,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  her  enemy,  that  she  could 
find  no  words  in  which  to  reply.  She 
flushed  to  the  temples,  then  turned 
deadly  white,  and  bursting  into  tears, 
hurried  from  the  spot. 

Claude  Leveredge  arose  and  flung 
his  cigar  away,  looking  after  her  with 
a  curious  mingling  of  pain  and  tri- 
umph. 

' '  I  guess  I  have  let  her  know  that 
she  is  to  have  one  mistress  here  at 
least,"  said  Miss  Matilda,  compla- 
cently. 

' '  I'd  like  to  break  your  neck, " 
muttered  Claude,  regaining  his  com- 
posure with  an  effort,  and-  lighting 
another  cigar,  while  he  seated  him- 
self with  an  air  of  attention  as  she 
continued  : 

"I  just  haven't  got  a  particle  of 
patience  with  those  white  niggers. 
Niggers  used  to  be  black  in  my  day  ; 
and  even  then  they  weren't  worth 
fighting  about.  I  do  think,  some- 
times, when  I  hear  folks  talkin'  and 
vowin'  they  won't  give  up  their  pre- 
cious slaves,  that  they  would  be  glad 


In  Bonds. 


enough  to  do  it  if  they  were  all  like 
ours — always  flouring  their  tongues 
and  makin'  believe  sick,  or  some- 
thing. My  goodness,  any  one  would 
think  that  a  nation  of  idiots  would 
know  better  than  to  fight  about 
them. " 

' '  But,  you  knowr,  both  parties  con- 
tend that  they  are  not  fighting  about 
them,"  said  Claude. 

* '  Oh,  they  can  contend  and  pre- 
tend what  they  please,  I  should  think 
I  ought  to  know  what  they  are  fight- 
in*  for ! "  returned  Miss  Matilda,  dis- 
dainfully ;  ' '  I've  watched  them  long 
enough.  The  Southerners  were  al- 
ways as  jealous  and  suspicious  as  a 
half-jilted  lover  ;•  and  the  Yankees 
are  just  like  a  dog  in  the  manger — 
an  uncommonly  surly  dog,  too — 
they  won't  take  the  niggers  them- 
selves, or  let  any  one  else  have 
them. " 

Claude  laughed,  and  said  :  ' '  I 
suppose,  aunt,  as  you  think  the  abo- 
litionists such  terrible  fellows,  you 
will  go  to  the  grand  meeting  at 
Foustville  next  week  :  although  I 
scarcely  think  it  will  be  safe  for  you 
to  do  so." 

' '  Safe  or  not,  I'm  going, "  she  re- 
torted. ' '  There,  just  look  at  Dixie  ! 
Doesn't  he  balance  himself  beauti- 
fully on  one  leg  ?  It's  a  pity  I  can't 
make  the  other  one  stay  down ;  it's 
always  getting  in  the  way,  from  its 
horizontal  position — catches  in  the 
bushes  and  sich  and  trips  him  up. 
The  creetur  forgets  how  much  room 
he  needs,  just  as  the  girls  used  to 
when  they  first  began  to  wear  crino- 
line." 

Claude  looked  at  the  wretched  fowl, 
as  it  hopped  painfully  away,  with  a 
glance  of  mingled  pity  and  amuse- 


ment. "  It  is  a  good  thing  Gordon 
is  not  here, "  he  said,  "for  I  fear  he 
would  greatly  disparage  your  gauge 
of  his  pet  Confederacy." 

' '  I  should  like  to  hear  him  at- 
tempt it, "  she  exclaimed,  defiantly ; 
"what  does  Mr.  Gordon  know  of 
the  Confederacy,  I  wonder  ?  He 
simply  imagines  it  to  be  a  place  that 
should  be  peopled  with  blacks,  and 
ruled  over  by  himself.  You'll  see  if 
he  don't  intimate  as  much  in  his 
speech  on  Monday ;  though  if  he 
could  find  anything  new  to  say  about 
the  '  divine  institution, '  he'd  sell  his 
soul  to  do  it. " 

"That  is  so  !"  exclaimed  Lever- 
edge,  suddenly  starting  to  his  feet  and 
pacing  the  piazza  in  great  agitation. 

' '  Yes, "  continued  Miss  Matilda, 
' '  that  speech  will  be  slavery  !  slave- 
ry !  slavery  !  from  beginning  to  end. 
He  will  give  a  history  of  its  divine 
origin,  and  prove  that  the  first  thing 
that  Adam  did  when  he  left  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden  was  to  take  a  trip  into 
Africa  and  capture  a  negro,  that  he 
might  eat  his  bread  by  the  sweat  of 
the  slave's  brow,  in  the  same  gentle, 
manly  manner  that  is  practiced  at  the 
present  time. " 

"You  seem  to  know  the  whole 
ground  that  Gordon  travels  over," 
said  Leveredge,  laughing. 

"  To  be  sure  I  do,  for  he's  been 
walking  up  and  down  the  same  little 
patch  for  thirty  years  or  more,  and  as 
he  has  never  seen  anything  on.jt  but 
cotton  and  niggers  he  thinks  nothing 
else  can  flourish  there  or  anywhere 
else." 

"It  is  very  natural  that  he  should 
think  well  of  slavery,"  said  Lever- 
edge,  "as  by  it  he  has  in  a  great 
measure  raised  himself  to  his  present 


144 


In  Bonds. 


position.  But,  indeed,  I  think  he  is 
crazy  on  the  subject.  It  was  he  who 
persuaded  Rita  to  enter  into  bonds, 
was  it  not  ?  " 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  replied 
Miss  Matilda,  in  a  dissatisfied  tone. 
' '  Nobody  ever  tells  me  anything. 
They  pretended  when  she  first  came 
here  that  she  had  been  a  slave  all  her 
life,  but  I  recognized  her  the  moment 
I  saw  her,  and  so  did  you. " 

' '  Of  course, "  replied  Leveredge, 
coolly  ;  ' '  Fused  to  go  to  school  with 
her.  Uncle  Acton  asked  me  to  look 
after  her  a  little,  and  I  did  so,  but  it 
led  to  unpleasant  results. " 

' ( I've  been  watchin'  her  for  some 
time/'  began  Miss  Matilda,  in  virtu- 
ous indignation ;  ' '  I've  been  suspect- 
ing as  much  of  her  for  a  long  time. 
There's  no  mistake  that  still  waters  do 
run  deep.  Well,  well,  I  guess  she 
won't  get  much  chance  to  deceive  any- 
body here,  though  I  don't  know  what 
would  become  of  Norton  Holmes  if 
I  wasn't  here  to  look  after  his  in- 
terests !  " 

"And  I  must  not  forget  that  I 
thought  of  you  when  I  was  in  Paris, " 
exclaimed  Leveredge,  entering  the 
house,  and  presently  reappearing  with 
a  dress  pattern  of  heavy  black  silk 
upon  his  arm,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  few  days  before.  ' '  There, 
aunt,  I  hope  you  will  consent  to  wear 
that  for  the  sake  of  the  giver. " 

Miss  Matilda  was  filled  with  ex- 
stacy.  Claude  had  reckoned  well  up- 
on her  great  love  of  dress,  and  by  this 
timely  gift  had  insured  her  friendship 
as  long  as  he  could  keep  up  her  anger 
toward  La  Guerita.  ' '  I  have  got  her 
safely  enough  now, "  he  said,  as  she 
hurried  away  to  exhibit  her  present, 
' '  and  if  I  fail  in  my  next  attack  it 


will  be  no  more  aunt  Matilda's  fault 
than  mine." 

He  was  certainly  correct,  for  no 
sooner  had  Miss  Matilda  shown  her 
new  acquisition  to  Mrs.  Holmes,  the 
children  and  the  house  servants,  than 
she  hastened  with  it  to  La  Guerita's 
cabin,  where  she  found  her  with  Har- 
old upon  her  lap,  teaching  him  to 
read. 

"I'd  like  to  know  who  told  you 
you  might  teach  that  child  to  read  ?  " 
she  exclaimed.  "Don't  you  know 
it  is  against  the  laws  of  the  State  to 
teach  niggers  to  read.  Now  you  just 
put  down  that  book  and  measure  the 
breadths  of  this  skirt,  and  go  to  work 
upon  it  right  away. " 

La  Guerita  arose  quickly,  though 
her  cheeks  burned  and  her  eyes  flash- 
ed fiercely,  and  taking  the  silk  in  her 
hand  bent  on  one  knee  to  measure 
the  breadths. 

"Can't  you  stoop,"  cried  Miss 
Matilda,  sharply.  "What  do  you 
suppose  your  back-bone  was  given 
you  for,  if  it  wasn't  to  bend  it  ?  I've 
been  makin'  up  my  mind  for  some 
time  past  to  give  you  a  good  talkin' 
to!" 

After  this  prelude  she  poured  upon 
the  astonished  La  Guerita  such  a  tor- 
rent of  invective  and  abuse  that  she 
quite  forgot  the  source  whence  it 
came,  and  bent  before  it  in  dejection 
as  great  and  real  as  if  Miss  Holmes 
herself  had  spoken. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

41  Let  come  what  will,  I  mean  to  bear  it  out, 
And  either  live  with  glorius  victory, 

Or  die. 

Shakespeare, 

FOOLISH  as  she  endeavored  to  per- 
suade herself  they  were,  La  Guerita 


In  Bonds. 


could  not  cast  off  her  feelings  of 
wounded  pride  and  shame,  and  for 
sometime  after  Miss  Matilda  left  her, 
sat  in  her  cabin  in  a  most  dejected 
mood.  Harry  at  last  came  in,  say- 
ing : 

' '  Miss  Adela  has  come  home  and 
wants  you  to  go  to  her  immedi- 
ately. " 

La  Guerita  obeyed  the  summons, 
but  upon  opening  the  parlor  door 
was  peremptorily  ordered  by  Miss 
Holmes,  who  was  talking  with  her 
cousin,  to  go  up  to  her  bedroom, 
"For,"  said  she,  "I  have  bought 
some  new  books,  and  intend  that  you 
shall  use  them  instead  of  the  miser- 
able things  the  children  are  poring 
over  now. " 

It  was  nearly  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
before  she  ascended  to  her  chamber. 
1 '  I  thought  I  should  never  be  able 
to  get  away  from  that  tiresome  fel- 
low, "  she  said,  as  she  carefully  closed 
and  locked  the  door,  ' '  and  I  know 
by  your  face  that  something  unpleas- 
ant has  occurred.  What  is  it  ?  Has 
Claude  been  talking  to  you  ?" 

' '  He  has  been  doing  worse  than 
that,"  returned  La  Guerita,  sadly; 
' '  he  has  in  some  way  turned  Miss 
Matilda  against  me,"  and  in  a  few 
words  she  related  the  events  of  the 
afternoon. 

"It  is  very,  very  annoying,"  ex- 
claimed Miss  Holmes.  "I  really 
think  aunt  Matilda  must  be  crazy, 
she  says  and  does  such  strange 
things.  I  positively  wish  we  could 
prove  her  so,  and  send  her  oft"  to  the 
asylum  at  Raleigh  for  a  time. " 

"  Did  you  call  at  the  E Post- 

Office,  to-day  ? "  asked  La  Guerita,  in 
a  low  voice. 

' '  Yes, "  answered  Miss   Holmes, 
19 


very  gravely,  "and  this  is  what  I 
got." 

She  gave  La  Guerita  a  package, 
and  turned  away.  La  Guerita  was 
prepared  for  ill  tidings,  and  with  a 
trembling  hand  drew  forth,  first,  her 
own  letters  to  Fabean  and  Victor, 
and  then  a  note  in  a  strange  hand- 
writing, announcing  the  death  of 
Miss  Holmes'  friend,  and  closing 
with  polite  regrets,  that  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  inclosed  communications, 
the  writer  thought  it  his  duty  not  to 
forward  them. 

La  Guerita  dropped  the  letters  up- 
on her  lap,  and  looked  upon  them  for 
some  time  so  hopelessly,  that  Miss 
Holmes  almost  feared  the  shock  had 
been  too  great  for  her  reason. 

She  knew  not  what  to  do  or  say, 
but  shortly  La  Guerita  raised  her 
head,  and  with  a  faint  smile,  more 
expressive  of  despair  than  a  flood  of 
tears  would  have  been,  said  :  "  It  is 
all  over  now,  Miss  Adela.  There  is 
no  more  hope.  I  don't  think  I 
shall  strive  any  more.  If  it  is  the 
Lord's  will  that  I  should  be  a  slave, 
it  is  no  use  for  me  to  fight  against 
it." 

' '  Oh,  we  must  not  be  dishearten- 
ed by  the  failure  of  our  first  enter- 
prise," said  Miss  Holmes,  cheering- 
ly,  ' '  I  have  no  doubt  we  shall  think 
of  a  dozen  better  projects  before 
long." 

But  nothing  that  Miss  Holmes 
could  say  cheered  her  despondent 
listener. 

' '  I  think  I  will  go  to  my  cabin 
and  think  of  it  alone,"  she  said  at 
length,  and  not  knowing  how  to 
comfort  her,  Miss  Holmes  allowed 
her  to  depart.  As  she  passed  the 
parlor  door,  Claude  Leveredge  no- 


146 


In    Bonds. 


ticed  her  down-cast  appearance,  and 
thought,  ' '  My  pretty  cousin  has  been 
helping  me.  I  think  I  may  venture 
to  speak  to  La  Guerita,  I  may  never 
find  her  in  such  a  dejected  mood 
again. " 

But  it  was  not  until  late  in  the 
evening  that  he  found  the  opportu- 
nity he  longed  for,  and  even  then  he 
was  forced  to  create  it.  It  chanced 
upon  that  evening  he  was  engaged 
to  attend  a  party  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holmes  and  his  cousin,  but  so  in- 
tent was  he  upon  meeting  La  Guerita, 
that  he  determined  at  the  last  mo- 
ment to  forego  it,  and  under  pretense 
of  writing  important  letters,  which 
he  had  unfortunately  till  then  for- 
gotten, excused  himself  from  going 
with  the  others,  and  promised  to  ride 
over  an  hour  or  Jwo  later. 

His  aunt  disclaimed  against  this, 
but  he  easily  silenced  her,  but  could 
not  so  readily  rid  himself  of  the 
uncomfortable  feeling  produced  by 
a  glance  from  Adela's  eyes,  which 
met  his  own,  and  plainly  showed 
she  believed  his  excuses  false. 

Indeed  she  would  even  have  re- 
mained at  home  if  it  had  been  pos- 
sible, but  Claude  had  so  cleverly 
managed  that  there  was  nothing  left 
but  for  her  to  go,  and  that  without 
even  being  able  to  send  a  word  of 
warning  to  La  Guerita. 

Claude  Leveredge  paced  the  piazza 
until  the  carriage  was  out  of  sight 
and  hearing,  then  entering  the  house 
he  exchanged  his  light  coat  for  a 
black  one,  and  putting  on  a  black 
hat,  strolled  into  the  garden,  and 
avoiding  the  negro  cabins,  kept  up- 
on shaded  paths  until  he  stood  be- 
fore La  Guerita  DeCuba's  humble 
home. 


" Incomprehensible  woman,''  he 
muttered,  "to  exchange  Enola,  with 
freedom,  for  this  and  slavery. " 

He  drew  nearer  ;  so  near  that  the 
whole  interior  of  the  cabin  was  ex- 
posed to  view.  Harry  lay  upon  the 
bed,  and  his  mother  was  sitting  by 
his  side,  leaning  her  chin  upon  her 
thin  delicate  hands,  and  looking  up- 
on the  child  with  an  expression,  that 
declared  to  the  eager  watcher  all  the 
horror  and  desolation  of  her  thral- 
dom. 

He  could  have  wept  for  her  then, 
had  he  not  loved  her  with  such  cruel 
and  selfish  passion. 

"Oh,  why  will  she  not  let  me 
pity,  and  love,  and  shield  her  ? r  he 
muttered,  passionately.  ' '  Oh,  why 
am  I  doomed  to  see — yes,  to  rejoice 
in  the  suffering  of  the  only  thing  I 
love  in  the  world  ?  Must  she  die  in 
this  horrible  servitude?  Will  she 
doom  herself  to  that  ?  No,  no,  she 
must  save  herself ;  she  must ;  she 
shall  ! " 

He  paused  no  longer  for  thought, 
but  entered  the  cabin.  La  Guerita 
started  to  her  feet  in  terror  and 
amazement,  for  she  had  supposed  him 
gone  to  the  party. 

Claude  Leveredge  stood  before 
her,  and  though  he  did  not  even 
touch  her  hand,  he  had  almost  irre- 
sistible power  over  her — she  could 
neither  move  nor  speak. 

' '  La  Guerita, "  he  said,  gravely, 
I  passed  your  door,  and  saw  you  sit- 
ting here,  with  such  a  deep  dejection 
upon  your  countenance,  that  I  could 
not  forbear  entering.  Oh,  La  Gue-  • 
rita,  my  love,  my  love,  I  would  give 
my  life  to  see  you  happy  again — to 
see  your  life  what  it  once  was. " 

"That  life  was  a  flower  thrown  in- 


In  Bonds. 


to  a  coffin,"  she  said,  almost  uncon- 
sciously quoting  the  beautiful  words 
of  another. 

He  clasped  his  hand  over  his  brow, 
with  a  gesture  more  expressive  of 
sorrowful  impatience  than  remorse. 

"One  flower  may  be  gone,"  he 
said,  "  but  the  stalk  can  bear  its  life 
again.  La  Guerita,  it  must.  Love 
shall  awaken  it,  and  you  knofv  that  I 
love  you ! " 

"  Yes,"  she  returned,  scarcely 
knowing  what  she  was  saying. 

He  drew  nearer,  and  said  in  that 
low,  sweet  voice  which  at  times  was 
his  greatest  charm  :  ' '  And  I  cannot 
forget  that  I  once  held  you  in  these 
arms,  and  you  sobbed  forth  that  you 
loved  me — that  you  would  be  my 
wife." 

He  paused  ;  for  to  his  great  sur- 
prise she  had  sunk  into  a  chair,  and 
was  weeping  bitterly. 

1 '  You  remember  it  ?  "  he  whis- 
pered at  length,  ' '  you  loved  me 
then." 

"Oh,  Claude,  Claude,"  she  ex- 
claimed, wildly,  "I thought  so  then. 
Oh,  leave  me,  leave  me,  I  am  so 
wretched." 

For  a  moment  he  stood  spell- 
bound as  his  name  burst  from  her 
lips,  then  springing  forward  he  knelt 
before  her,  drawing  her  hands  down 
from  her  face,  and  covering  them 
with  passionate  kisses.  "Oh,  my 
love,  my  love,  he  cried,  ' '  you  have 
then  forgiven  me  ?  You  will  let  me 
make  your  happiness,  as  I  once  des- 
troyed it  ? " 

La  Guerita  seemed  for  a  moment 
paralyzed.  Her  brain  whirled.  ' '  He 
has  mistaken  me  ! "  she  thought. 
"But  he  loves  me  :  he  will  save  my 
child.  Oh,  Heaven  help  me,  I  be- 


lieve I  am  going  mad.     Oh,  Harold, 
Harold,  Harold  !  " 

She  sank  back  in  her  chair  quite 
powerless,  almost  senseless,  while 
Claude  Leveredge  still  knelt  at  her 
feet.  If  he  had  left  her  then,  if  he 
had  trusted  to  the  sense  of  honor 
which  would  have  controlled  her 
later  thoughts,  she  might  never  have 
had  power  to  undeceive  him.  But 
he  cried  : 

' '  Remember,  love,  that  I  did  not 
mean  to  injure  Harold  DeGrey.  I 
did  not  think  to  attain  this  happiness 
only  by  his  death. " 

She  sprang  to  her  feet.  ' '  This 
happiness, "  she  cried.  ' '  Good  God, 
what  have  I  done  ?  Leave  me.  I 
am  a  miserable  slave,  but  never  will 
I  be  freed  by  the  hand  of  my  hus- 
band's murderer.  Never,  never  ! " 

He  arose  and  grasped  her  arm. 
"What  do  you  mean?"  he  cried, 
hoarsely.  ' '  Are  you  mad  ?  Dare 
you  play  me  false  a  second  time  ? " 

' '  I  cannot  be  false, "  she  returned  ; 
' 1 1  have  never  loved  you.  I  know 
not  what  spirit  tempted  me  a  mo- 
ment since,  but  I  tell  you  now, 
Claude  Leveredge,  I  would  rather 
die  a  slave  than  be  your  wife. " 

He  made  no  answer.  Great  as 
had  been  the  shock  to  him,  he  de- 
termined to  keep  his  composure,  re- 
membering what  high  stakes  he  had 
often  sacrificed  by  ungovernable  ex- 
citement. He  sat  down  upon  the 
bed,  and  toyed  with  the  long,  dark 
locks  of  the  sleeping  child.  La 
Guerita  shuddered  as  she  saw  him. 
Presently  he  looked  up,  and  said  in 
a  voice  of  inexpressible  sadness  : 

' '  You  have  doomed  him  !  You 
will  not  marry  me,  and  by  those 
words  have  cast  bonds  as  strong  as 


148 


In  Bonds. 


death  upon  this  innocent  child.  I 
speak  not  of  you,  but  of  Harold  De- 
Grey's  child,  the  scion  of  a  noble 
race  enslaved  forever. " 

She  knew  that  he  was  acting  a  part, 
yet  she  found  it  almost  impossible  to 
withstand  the  emotions  he  excited, 
until  she  thought  and  said  :  ' '  Adela 
Holmes  loves  him." 

"But  Adela  Holmes  is  not  his 
mistress,"  returned  Leveredge,  im- 
pressively, adding  in  a  voice  as  inex- 
orable as  Fate,  "but  I  will  be  his 
master.  Do  you  understand  me  ?  I 
shall  take  your  child  from  you  ;  he 
shall  be  my  slave. " 

La  Guerita  looked  at  him  hopeless- 
ly, appalled  by  the  fresh  threat. 

"  I  am  in  earnest, "  he  continued, 
remorselessly.  ' '  Think  of  what  I 
offer  you  and  your  child — wealth, 
position,  an  honorable  name.  De- 
Grey  himself  would  have  scorned 
you  ;  that  craven  who  died  because 
the  world  could  jeer  the  wife  he  pro- 
fessed to  love.  Yes,  he  would  have 
scorned  you,  could  he  have  seen  you 
as  I  do  now.  But  I — I  would  raise 
you  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  honor, 
slave  though  you  are. " 

The  insult  stung  her,  yet  it  cowed 
her  too.  There  was  silence  between 
them  for  full  five  minutes.  Lever- 
edge  seemed  lost  in  thought.  He 
paced  the  room,  uttering  quick  and 
violent  expletives.  His  passion  was 
culminating.  La  Guerita  saw  it  with 
horror,  and  strove  to  quiet  him. 

' '  Listen  to  me, "  she  said,  ' '  and 
oh,  I  pray  be  merciful.  If  you  love 
me — if  you  repent  of  Harold's  death, 
and  crave  forgiveness — leave  me.  I 
I  will  not  even  ask  your  help,  but 
only  that  you  will  leave  me  and  my 
child  to  God's  own  will — whether  it 


be  to  live  or  die.  Claude,  I  cannot 
marry  you  ;  I  feel  that  my  perjured 
soul  would  be  lost  forever  if  I  did. 
But  indeed  you  have  your  revenge. 
I  will  humble  myself  even  throw 
myself  at  your  feet,  to  crave  your 
mercy — to  entreat  you  to  spare  my 
child/' 

"Fool!"  he  hissed,  madly,  "do 
you  think  to  cajole  me  with  soft 
words  ?  No,  no  !  By  Heavens,  if 
you  will  not  be  my  wife,  you  shall  be 
a  slave  ;  your  child  shall  be  my  slave. 
Have  you  a  care  for  your  good  name 
— for  that  of  your  dead  husband  ? 
They  shall  be  bandied  about  in  men's 
mouths  as  the  lightest  and  vilest  on 
earth.  Yours  will  be  that  of  the  most 
unnatural  of  monsters — the  woman 
whose  passions  led  her  to  enslave  her 
own  child.  La  Guerita,  why  do  you 
not  bid  me  save  you  ?  Why  will  you 
not  save  yourself  even  now  ? " 

' '  I  cannot, "  she  said,  meekly  ; 
' '  but  God  will  save  me. " 

' '  You  were  wriser  once, "  he  said, 
laughing  harshly.  ' '  You  said  there 
was  no  God.  We  shall  see  if  he  will 
work  a  miracle  for  his  new  devotee. 
I  swear  to  you  that  if  I  leave  this 
room  in  anger,  I  go  to  ruin  you." 

' '  I  cannot  appease  you. " 

He  muttered  an  oath  and  strode 
from  the  cabin.  She  would  have 
given  worlds  to  have  been  able  to 
call  him  back — to  appeal  for  mercy 
once  more,  but  the  power  was  de- 
nied her.  She  sank  upon  the  bed 
almost  senseless  from  excitement, 
and  remained  there  hours  quite  mo- 
tionless, aroused  at  last  by  a  bright 
light  falling  over  her. 

She  looked  up  in  bewilderment, 
and  beheld  Miss  Holmes,  still  in 
evening  dress,  standing  beside  her. 


In  Bonds. 


149 


She  muttered  something  confusedly, 
but  Miss  Holmes  said  : 

"Try  to  calm  yourself.  Try  to 
tell  me  what  has  happened.  Claude 
has  been  here,  but  what  else  ? " 

' '  I  cannot  tell  you  yet, "  said  La 
Guerita,  in  a  strange,  incoherent 
way,  yet  aroused  by  the  sight  of  her 
friend's  tears  ;  ' '  but  why  are  you 
here?" 

"I  came  from  Mrs.  Rulofson's 
five  minutes  ago.  I  thought  mamma 
would  never  leave.  Claude  promised 
to  follow  us  there,  but  did  not.  Oh, 
I  know  why  he  stayed. " 

La  Guerita  was  already  calmer,  and 
gave  a  hurried  account  of  what  had 
passed. 

' '  I  suspected  it,  I  suspected  it, " 
she  cried  excitedly  ;  * '  for  I  went  in- 
to aunt  Matilda's  room  and  inquired 
for  him  as  soon  as  I  reached  home. 
*  I  believe  your  cousin  is  mad, '  said 
she,  'for,  an  hour  or  so  after  you 
left  for  Miss  Rulofson's,  he  suddenly 
came  into  the  sitting  room,  wild 
with  excitement,  and  never  minded 
me  no  more  than  if  I  had  been  a 
fly  buzzin'  in  his  ears.  And  then  he 
rushed  out  and  ordered  Selim,  and 

went  off  on   the  M road  as  if 

pursued  by  furies. '  ' 

' '  And  did  he  say  nothing  ?  "  ask- 
ed La  Guerita,  eagerly. 

' '  Yes  ;  aunt  Matilda  said  he  mut- 
tered that  he  would  see  him  this  very 
night,  and  that  he  would  have  his  re- 
venge. '  From  which  she  thinks  that 
there  is  a  duel  to  be  fought.  Ah,  if 
'twas  nothing  worse  that  is  to  be 
done.  What  can  it  be  ?  What  can 
it  be?" 

' '  God  only  knows, "  said  La  Gue- 
rita, helplessly.  "Oh,  Miss  Adela, 
He  knows  even  why  it  is  good  for 


me  to  be  tortured  thus.  Oh,  my 
God,  my  God,  I  am  very  weary. " 

Inexpressibly  affected,  Miss  Holmes 
for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  bent 
down  and  kissed  her,  saying  :  ' '  Rest, 
my  poor  child,  rest ;  for  He  giveth 
his  beloved  sleep." 

Then  she  went  out,  and  silence 
brooded  over  Holmsford,  while  two 
hearts,  in  anguish,  awaited  the  com- 
ing evil. 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE  CLOUDS  DARKEN. 

THE  next  day  Miss  Holmes  was  ill, 
and  La  Guerita  could  neither  see  or 
hear  from  her,  as  both  felt  the  need 
of  circumspection,  that  neither  aunt 
Matilda  or  any  member  of  the  family 
might  suspect  their  intimacy.  This 
illness  was  an  additional  trial  to  La 
Guerita,  not  only  because  it  prevented 
her  from  seeing  her  friend,  but  be- 
cause she  knew  it  had  been  obtained 
in  her  service. 

She  could  scarcely  restrain  her  joy 
when  Roxy  entered  the  school-room 
and  said  that  Asenith  Bray  was  in 
Miss  Adela's  room,  and  wished  to  see 
her  there.  She  went  quickly  and 
gladly,  and  found  Miss  Holmes  sit- 
ting in  a  large  easy  chair,  looking  very 
pale,  but  not  seriously  ill,  as  she  had 
supposed  her  to  be. 

"Oh,  it  has  been  nothing  worse 
than  a  bad  cold  on  the  lungs, "  said 
Miss  Holmes,  as  she  embraced  her  ; 
"just  enough  to  remind  one  of  the 
necessity  of  prudence." 

"Thee  never  had  much  of  that, 
Adela,"  said  Asenith,  after  greeting 
La  Guerita,  who  exclaimed  : 

"  It  is  I  who  am  to  blame  for  this. 
It  was  not  the  midnight  ride,  but  the 


150 


In  Bonds. 


visit  to  my  cabin  that  prostrated 
you. " 

"  I  stayed  in  the  garden  too  long 
after  it, "  said  Miss  Holmes,  hoarsely ; 
' '  I  was  so  excited  that  I  could  not 
enter  the  house.  I  momentarily  ex- 
pected that  Claude  would  come  back 
and  do  something  dreadful.  What 
did  happen,  Rita  ?  I  scarcely  under- 
stood you  that  night. " 

La  Guerita  related  all  that  had 
transpired.  Miss  Holmes  glanced  up 
in  momentary  amazement  when  she 
heard  how  La  Guerita  had  been 
tempted  to  buy  her  liberty  even  at 
Claude  Leveredge's  own  price. 

"Do  not  blame  her,  Adela,"  said 
Asenith,  gently,  noticing  the  upbraid- 
ing glance.  ' '  Thee  has  never  been 
a  slave  ;  thee  can  little  imagine  how 
great  a  boon  is  freedom.  But,  La 
Guerita,  I  came  here  to-day  to  give 
thee  some  hope.  I  know  thee  needs 
it.  It  comes  from  thy  mother. " 

"  My  mother  !  "  echoed  La  Gue- 
rita, trembling  with  emotion  ;  "Oh, 
Asenith,  what  have  you  heard  from 
her?" 

"Sit  down  and  I  will  tell  thee," 
said  the. Quakeress,  kindly.  "Thee 
seems  weak  and  excitable,  child  ;  I 
must  stew  down  some  herbs  for  thee. 

Last  week  I  was  in  M ,  and  went 

to  see  thy  mother.  Poor  soul !  she 
wept  bitterly  when  we  spoke  of  thee. " 

' '  Poor  Another,  she  tried  to  save 
me, "  sighed  La  Guerita  ;  "she  told 
me  I  should  curse  the  day  I  entered 
into  slavery." 

"Ay,  and  she  blessed  the  Lord 
when  she  heard  that  time  had  come. 
Thy  slavery  hath  grieved  her  sorely, 
and  greatly  has  she  striven  with  the 
Lord  to  show  her  some  way  of  deliv- 
erance for  thee.  At  last  she  heard  by 


accident  Will.  Russell  speak  of  thee. 
Something  led  her  to  believe  he  had 
known  thee  when  free.  She  followed 
and  questioned  him,  and  at  last  gain- 
ed thy  brother's  address  and  that  of 
thy  husband's  brother.  Even  after 
that  she  could  for  a  time  do  nothing, 
but  thee  knows  she  can  read  and 
write,  and  is  of  a  deep  and  crafty  na- 
ture, and  hath  made  herself  a  great 
woman  among  her  race.  None  fear 
to  intrust  their  secrets  to  her,  and 
many  go  to  her  for  advice,  especially 
those  who  meditate  flight.  To  one 
of  these  she  intrusted  two  letters,  and 
gave  him  such  instructions  as  enabled 
him  to  get  into  the  Union  lines  in 
safety. " 

' '  Are  you  sure  of  that  ?  "  inter- 
rupted La  Guerita,  breathlessly. 

' '  Quite  sure, "  said  Asenith,  "  or  I 
should  have  told  thee  naught  of  this. 
Thy  mother  hath  in  some  way  gained 
every  assurance  of  his  safety. " 

"  Thank  God,  then  I  am  saved  !  " 
cried  La  Guerita,  fervently.  ' '  Fabean 
will  rescue  me  !  " 

"Asenith  always  brings  glad  tid- 
ings, "  exclaimed  Miss  Holmes.  ' '  La 
Guerita,  your  faith  has  not  been  in 
vain. " 

La  Guerita  took  the  hand  of  the 
Quakeress  and  kissed  it,  being  for 
some  time  too  much  affected  to  speak. 
' '  I  wish  I  could  see  my  /mother, " 
she  said,  at  length  ;  "I  have  not  de- 
served this  kindness  from  her." 

"You  shall  see  her,"  said  Miss 
Holmes,  "as  soon  as  this  annoy- 
ing illness  leaves  me.  I  must  be 
careful  not  to  expose  myself  so  much 
again.  I  never  fancied  myself  deli- 
cate before,  but  indeed  of  late  I  have 
been  too  much  excited  to  remain 
strong.  And  not  alone  because  of 


In  Bonds. 


you, "  she  added,  quickly,  perceiving 
La  Guerita's  eyes  bent  sorrowfully 
upon  her.  ' '  And  now,  thank  Heav- 
en, all  anxiety  for  you  may  end  ;  we 
can  defy  Claude  to  do  his  worst. " 

"  Oh,  Fabean  will  surely  come  !  " 
cried  La  Guerita,  in  a  voice  she  vainly 
strove  to  render  free  from  doubt. 
' '  He  surely  will  not  let  me  languish 
here." 

' '  There's  a  gentleman  down  in  the 
parlor, "  said  Roxy,  suddenly  entering 
the  room,  "and  Miss  Myra's  sent 
for  Rita  to  go  there  right  away. " 

La  Guerita  looked  blankly  at  Ase- 
nith  and  Miss  Holmes,  both  of  whom 
looked  blankly  in  return.  ' '  It  is 
Fabean,"  was  the  instant  and  un- 
spoken thought  of  each ;  and  trem- 
bling with  the  joy,  the  hope  induced, 
La  Guerita  left  the  room  and  hastened 
to  the  parlor.  She  paused  for  a  mo- 
ment at  the  door,  fearing  to  realize 
her  fears  or  destroy  her  hopes.  Then 
with  a  mighty  effort  she  turned  the 
lock  and  passed  in.  She  was  quite 
blinded  by  her  emotions ;  she  knew 
she  was  standing  before  a  gentleman, 
then  suddenly  realized  that  it  was  one 
she  had  never  beheld  before.  The 
revulsion  of  feeling  was  too  great  for 
her  to  bear,  and  with  a  faint  moan 
she  fell  in  a  swoon  upon  the  floor. 

' '  Most  remarkable  !  "  exclaimed 
the  stranger,  as  he  raised  her  in  his 
arms  and  gazed  in  amazement  upon 
her  beautiful  countenance.  ' '  The 
woman  is  certainly  not  robust,  though 
remarkably  handsome — too  hand- 
some, in  fact.  I  am  afraid  she  would 
not  answer  Mrs.  LeGrand's  purpose 
at  all. " 

"Oh,  my  goodness  !  "  cried  Mrs. 
Holmes,  "you  don't  mean  to  tell  me 
that  you  came  to  buy  her — that  Nor- 


ton wants  to  sell  Rita  ?  Do  ring  that 
bell  for  the  servants.  Oh,  dear,  what 
should  I  do  with  the  children  if  she 
were  to  die  ?  " 

Miss  Holmes  and  Asenith  Bray  had 
heard  La  Guerita  fall,  and  at  first  sup- 
posed that  their  first  idea  was  correct, 
but  at  the  sound  of  the  bell  and  Mrs. 
Holmes'  incoherent  speeches  Asenith 
hurried,  in  much  agitation,  to  the 
parlor,  where  she  found  La  Guerita 
already  regaining  consciousness,  and 
Mrs.  Holmes  and  the  servants  in  a 
state  of  the  greatest  excitement. 

' '  To  think  that  Rita  is  going  to  be 
sold, "  exclaimed  the  former.  ' '  Ase- 
nith, only  think,  Norton  is  going  to 
sell  Rita." 

"  Hush,  hush  !  "  exclaimed  Ase- 
nith, greatly  shocked  ;  "it  cannot  be 
true.  Hush,  she  will  hear  thee. " 

"Oh,  but  it  is  true," persisted  Mrs. 
Holmes,  following  Asenith  to  the  sofa 
upon  which  La  Guerita  lay.  ' '  I 
never  should  have  thought  it  of  Nor- 
ton. He  sent  this  Mr.  Reeves  out 
here  to  look  at  her  this  very  afternoon. 
He  wants  her  for  a  waiting  maid  for 
Mrs.  LeGrand,  of  New  Orleans.  Just 
think  of  Norton  selling  Rita  to  be  a 
waiting  maid  ! " 

"Hush,  I  tell  thee,"  said  the  Qua- 
keress, sternly.  But  it  was  too  late  ; 
La  Guerita  had  heard  it  all,  and 
springing  to  her  feet,  the  color  flam- 
ing into  her  cheeks,  she  cried  : 

' '  Who  dares  to  speak  of  selling 
me  ?  I  will  die  before  I  leave  this 
house  other  than  a  free  woman. " 

' '  I  just  knew  she  would  turn  this 
way  sometime,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes, 
helplessly  ;  ' '  she'll  put  poison  in  our 
coffee  next,  no  doubt.  These  octo- 
roons always  do. " 

"Be  calm,"  said  Asenith,  in  a  low 


152 


In  Bonds. 


voice,  laying  her  hand  upon  La  Gue- 
rita's  arm,  and  striving  to  draw  her 
away  from  the  startled  servants  and 
the  amazed. agent. 

"No!"  she  exclaimed,  fiercely, 
' '  I  will  speak  !  I  will  declare  that  I 
am  held  here  in  bondage  against  my 
will — that  I  will  die  rather  than  yield 
to  another  master  !  Oh,  Fabean  ! 
Fabean  !  " 

She  uttered  the  name  of  her  brother 
in  a  despairing  way,  strangely  at  vari- 
ance with  the  defiant  tone  of  her 
former  sentence.  At  that  moment 
Claude  Leveredge  entered  the  room, 
greatly  flushed  and  bespattered  with 
mud.  He  instantly  approached  the 
agent  and  said  : 

"  My  uncle,  Mr.  Holmes,  has 

sent  me  with  all  speed  from  M 

to  say  that  he  cannot  dispose  of  the 
slave  in  question  at  the  price  spoken 
of." 

' '  I  think  I  could  venture  to  say 
the  price  would  be  readily  increased — 
doubled,  if  necessary,"  replied  the 
agent,  glancing  admiringly  at  La 
Guerita. 

That  glance  infuriated  Claude  Lev- 
eredge, but  he  controlled  himself 
wonderfully  well,  as  he  answered, 
firmly  :  ' '  No  money  will  buy  her,  at 
least  at  present.  But,  however,  that 
your  journey  here  may  not  be  in  vain, 
I  recommend  you  to  call  at  Mr.  Stan- 
ley's. He  has  a  girl  of  whom  he 
wishes  to  dispose  who  will  exactly 
suit  your  purpose." 

The  agent  looked  at  La  Guerita 
and  hesitated.  Claude  Leveredge's 
brow  darkened,  yet  he  still  restrained 
his  passion,  and  in  a  few  moments 
conducted  the  agent  from  the  room. 

La  Guerita  was  too  much  aston- 
ished and  bewildered  by  all  that  had 


passed,  especially  by  Claude's  unex- 
pected interference  in  her  behalf,  to 
be  able  for  some  moments  to  speak 
or  move.  She  was  recalled  to  her 
senses  by  finding  herself  alone  in  the 
room  with  Mrs.  Holmes  and  Miss 
Matilda,  the  former  of  whom  was  in 
tears  and  the  latter  more  voluble  in 
her  indignation  than  she  had  ever 
been  in  her  life  before. 

La  Guerita  left  the  room  and  en- 
countered Claude  Leveredge  in  the 
hall.  He  was  leaning  against  the 
door-way  in  a  languid  attitude,  and 
with  a  haggard,  worn  expression 
which  she  had  never  seen  upon  his 
face  before.  Something  prompted 
her  to  stop  and  look  at  him.  He 
turned  toward  her,  saying,  almost 
sullenly  : 

' '  Why  do  you  stop  ?  Is  it  to 
thank  me  for  saving  you  to-day  ?  for, 
by  Heaven,  that  was  no  acting.  I 
did  save  you. " 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it, "  she  said,  sin- 
cerely, ' '  but  why  did  your  uncle 
think  of  selling  me  ?  " 

"Because  he  was  either  drunk  or 
mad, "  he  answered,  excitedly,  ' '  cow- 
ard and  traitor  as  he  is  to  us  both. 
Dolores  told  him  to-day  that  she  had 
written  to  your  brother  ;  -he  torment- 
ed the  woman  till  she  even  dared  do 
that ;  and  in  his  impotent  wrath  and 
fright  he  encountered  that  agent,  and 
swore  that  he  would  sell  you.  Good 
Heavens  !  I  could  have  killed  him 
when  I  heard  of  it ;  but  I  thought  it 
wiser  to  hurry  home,  before  that  fel- 
low left.  He  would  have  given  any 
price  for  you  ;  and  you  and  your 
child  would  have  been  hurried  off  to 
New  Orleans  this  very  night. " 

"Oh,  don't  speak  to  me  in  that 
way !  "  she  entreated,  quite  broken 


In  Bonds. 


153 


down  by  shame  that  it  was  possible 
for  him  to  do  so. 

' '  You  have  only  yourself  to  blame 
that  I  can  do  so, "  he  said  ;  "and  you 
have  your  mother  to  blame  for  your 
fright  this  afternoon.  Did  you  know 
she  had  written  to  Fabean  ?  " 

' '  Yes, "  she  replied,  hesitatingly. 

' '  Ah,  well !  let  him  come  !  Do 
you  think  he  could  take  you  from 
me?  No,  by  Heavens,  he  shall 
not !  " 

She  looked  at  him  calmly,  but  with 
the  calmness  of  despair. 

"I  ask  you  for  the  last  time  to 
trust  me, "  he  said.  ' '  Good  God,  is 
not  my  love  surety  enough  for  your 
honor  ? " 

"  It  is  not  in  your  power  to  marry 
me,"  she  said. 

He  turned  deadly  pale,  and  reeled, 
as  he  attempted  to  stand  erect  before 
her.  "Ah!"  she  continued,  con- 
temptuously, "that  shows  me  that 
you  would  not." 

' '  I  would  !  "  he  exclaimed,  re- 
gaining his  composure;  "I  swear 
that  I  would.  Come  with  me,  to  the 
North,  to  Europe — anywhere  where 
I  can  marry  you.  I  ask  you  for  the 
last  time  to  go  with  me — to  go  and 
be  my  wife.  Remember  what  I 
saved  you  from  this  afternoon. " 

"Remember!"  she  said,  "and 
this  let  me  assure  you,  that  I  no 
longer  act  from  passion,  but  from 
reason,  and  whatever  comes  I  cannot 
marry  you. " 

She  left  his  presence  slowly,  and 
gazing  after  her  in  a  wild,  hopeless 
way,  he  muttered  :  ' '  Then  it  must 
•be ;  I  will  subdue  her,  even  at  that 
cost.  I  would  have  spared  her  ;  but 
now  it  must,  it  shall  be  ! " 

La  Guerita  left  the  house  more  in 
20 


wonderment  than  alarm.  ' '  God  will 
send  Fabean,''  she  said,  in  faith, 
' '  and  wherever  they  place  me  he 
will  find  me  out.  Even  the  hand  of 
my  enemy  He  constrains  to  protect 
me  ;  I  will  not  fear. " 

She  related  what  had  passed  to 
Miss  Holmes  the  following  morn- 
ing. "Oh,  Rita!  Rita!"  she  ex- 
claimed, "I  cannot  believe  in  his 
good  faith,  though  you,  through  all, 
do  not  doubt  it.  Remember  how 
your  simple  question  affected  him. 
Indeed,  I  feel  as  if,  of  late,  we  had 
all  grown  utterly  bad.  My  father  is 
different  from  what  he  ever  was  be- 
fore ;  Aunt  Matilda,  even,  is  more  of 
a  vixen,  and  Claude's  worst  passions 
are  developed.  I  feel  myself  dread- 
fully wicked  at  times,"  she  added, 
1  the  tears  gathering  in  her  eyes ; 
' '  but,  oh,  Rita,  I  am  so  lonely — so 
wretched ! " 

La  Guerita  remembered  what  she 
had  heard  concerning  the  private  mat- 
ters of  Miss  Holmes,  on  the  memo- 
rable afternoon  when  she  awoke  to  a 
full  consciousness  of  her  own  abject 
condition ;  but  as  the  subject  had  nev- 
er been  alluded  to  by  Miss  Holmes, 
she  felt  constrained  to  be  silent  con- 
cerning it,  and  said,  cheerfully  : 

' '  Yes,  I  know  the  war  worries 
you,  but  the  news  from  the  front  is 
inspiriting  to-day,  Miss  Adela. " 

' '  Oh,  as  to  the  war, "  she  replied, 
"nothing  that  occurs  can  alter  my 
belief  as  to  what  will  be  the  final  re- 
sult ;  but  the  end  seems  so  far  off. 
Ah  !  there  is  a  knock  at  the  door. 
Unfasten  my  hair,  or  do  something 
as  an  excuse  to  stay  with  me  longer. " 

La  Guerita  obeyed. 

' '  I  am  going  to  see  what  sort  of  a 
hair-dresser  Rita  will  make  ;  Annette 


'54 


In  Bonds. 


is  so  clumsy,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
querulously,  as  her  mother  entered 
the  room. " 

1 '  I  have  told  you  so  hundreds  of 
times,"  said  Mrs.  Holmes,  looking 
with  childish  delight  at  her  daugh- 
ter's long,  waving  tresses  ;  ' '  but  you 
never  would  agree  with  me.  How 
becoming  that  blue  wrapper  is. 
Can't  Claude  come  in  to  see  you ; 
he  is  dying  to  do  so.  Never  mind  if 
your  hair  is  down/' 

"But  I  do  mind,"  began  Miss 
Holmes,  when  her  mother  opened 
the  door  and  gave  the  invitation 
which  had  evidently  been  waited  for 
in  the  hall,  for  Claude  Leveredge  im- 
mediately entered,  and  greeted  his 
cousin  with  unfeigned  affection,  se- 
cretly wondering  how  La  Guerita 
bore  the  indignity  of  being  trans- 
formed into  a  dressing  maid. 

She  went  on  with  her  work,  appa- 
rently regardless  of  his  presence.  ' '  I 
have  been  very  uneasy  about  you, 
Adela, "  he  said  ;  "I  was  very  sorry, 
when  I  heard  you  were  ill,  that  I  did 
not  go  to  the  party  and  insist  upon 
your  keeping  yourself  well  wrapped 
during  the  ride  home. " 

' '  Thank  you.  By  the  way,  I  have 
never  heard  the  reason  of  your  ab- 
sence that  evening — Rita,  be  more 
careful — Mrs.  Rulofson  was  greatly 
disappointed. " 

He  colored  slightly  beneath  her 
glance,  but  answered,  readily:  "I 
presume  my  disappointment  was 
greater  than  her's ;  I  can't  imagine 
how  I  was  so  stupid  as  to  forget  some 
most  important  business  which  I  had 
intended  to  write  about  to  a  friend  in 
Richmond,  to  whom  I  at  last  found 
it  imperatively  necessary  to  telegraph 
that  very  night. " 


"Oh,  you  were  always  just  as 
careless  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Holmes  ; 
' '  indeed,  you  were  the  torment  of 
all  surrounding  you  when  you  were 
a  boy  ;  and  yet  every  one  liked 
you. " 

He  sighed,  and  his  aunt  laughed, 
gaily,  as  she  continued  :  "You  need 
not  grieve  over  your  lost  popularity, 
for  the  ladies  were  quite  in  despair 
at  your  absence  the  other  evening  ; 
you  make  an  impression  wherever 
you  go." 

"So  the  committee  said  when 
they  asked  me  to  make  a  speech  at 
Foustville,  on  Monday,"  he  return- 
ed, laughing. 

"Yes,  and  only  think,  Addie, 
Claude  is  really  going  to  make  a 
speech,  and  we  are  all  going  to  hear 
him.  I'm  sure  you  will  be  well 
enough.  Alfred  and  Rufus,  and  even 
Minna,  are  nearly  crazy  about  it. " 

"You  surely  are  not  going  to  al- 
low the  children  to  go  !  "  exclaimed 
Miss  Holmes;  "there  will  be  no 
peace  for  any  one  else  if  you  do. " 

"Oh,  Rita  shall  go,  also.  Claude 
particularly  desires  them  to  go  ;  don't 
you,  Claude  ? " 

Miss  Holmes  flushed.  "Leave 
the  room,  Rita,"  she  said,  suddenly, 
scarcely  able  to  repress  a  glance  of 
intelligence,  as  she  obeyed,  rilled 
with  a  vague  distrust  and  fear.  Why 
was  she  to  be  present  when  Claude 
Leveredge  spoke  in  Foustville  ?  Was 
it  possible  that  he  could  find  some 
means  to  shame  or  intimidate  her 
there  ? 

"That  was  quite  impossible,"  so 
she  said  to  herself  a  hundred  times, 
yet  still  her  fears  remained  when, 
hours  later,  she  obeyed  a  summons 
to  Adela's  room. 


In  Bonds. 


"  I  don't  know  what  is  to  be  done 
at  Foustville,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
' '  but  I  will  certainly  be  there  to  see. 
I  tried  in  every  way  to  induce  mam- 
ma to  leave  you  at  home,  but,  for 
once,  she  was  quite  firm  in  resisting 
my  whim,  as  she  called  it.  Of 
course,  Claude  rallied  me  about  it, 
too,  or  she  would  have  yielded. 
After  all,  my  first  impression,  that 
Claude  meditates  some  step  against 
you  is  wrong,  and  may  be  altogether 
wrong.  At  any  rate,  there  is  nothing 
left  but  for  you  to  go  ;  and  I,  too, 
will  be  there,  if  I  am  even  half  as 
strong  as  I  am  now.  Don't  come  to 
my  room  again  unless  I  send  for  you  ; 
I  have  a  fancy  that  Claude  is  watch- 
ing us. '' 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    CLOUDS    BURST. 

THE  next  two  days  La  Guerita  spent 
alone,  free  from  the  cares  of  the 
school-room  and  the  persecutions  of 
Claude  Leveredge.  Therefore  she 
sighed  when  Monday  came,  and  with 
a  thousand  misgivings  at  her  heart, 
took  her  place  with  the  children  in 
an  open  carriage  which  was  to  con- 
vey them  to  Foustville. 

Miss  Holmes  had  not  improved  in 
health  as  much  as  she  had  hoped  to 
do,  but  according  to  the  determina- 
tion previously  expressed,  she  took 
her  seat  in  her  mother's  carriage, 
giving  as  an  excuse  that  she,  like  the 
others,  must  hear  Claude  speak. 

1 '  And  so  must  I, "  ejaculated  Miss 
Matilda,  appearing  in  her  most  fan- 
tastic apparel,  at  the  last  minute. 
"  Help  me  in  Claude.  Oh,  law,  you 
needn't  lift  me  quite  off  my  feet,  I'm 
as  spry  as  ever  I  was  in  my  life. " 


"You'll  surely  get  into  trouble," 
said  Claude  Leveredge,  who  seemed 
at  once  to  get  in  a  restless  and  teasing 
mood. 

' '  I  don't  care  if  I  do, "  she  retort- 
ed ;"  but  law  me,  I  can't  do  worse 
than  I  did  that  Sunday  Parson  Sim- 
cox  preached.  *' 

"And  what  did  you  do  then?" 
asked  Claude,  leaning  against  the 
door  of  the  carriage,  wrhile  the  serv- 
ants brought  and  arranged  the  nu- 
merous articles  Mrs.  Holmes  thought 
absolutely  necessary  to  her  comfort  ; 
' '  What  sort  of  a  sermon  did  he  give 
that  it  would  excite  you  ?  " 

"Oh,  'twas  condensed  thunder 
and  lightnin',  of  course.  What's-his- 
name  never  hurled  such  bolts  of 
wrath  against  the  Yankees  as  did 
Uriah  on  that  day.  Almost  the  first 
thing  he  said  was  that  every  man  that 
died  while  fighting  for  the  Confeder- 
acy went  straight  to  Heaven — got  a 
pass  right  through — he  couldn't  help 
bringin'  in  some  idea  of  the  universal 
darkey  even  then,  you  see.  Well, 
some  folks  at  that  got  up  and  left  the 
church,  but  I  went  there  to  hear  the 
wrhole  of  the  sermon,  and  I  wasn't 
going  to  let  anything  prevent  me 
from  doing  so.  Uriah  was  a  little 
daunted  when  he  saw  the  people  go 
out,  but  immediately  went  on  to 
prove  his  words.  '  They  were  doing 
God's  work, '  said  he,  '  and  will  there- 
fore gain  the  reward  of  the  righteous. 
By  arraying  themselves  against  Aboli- 
tionists, they  array  themselves  against 
the  Devil,  for  Beelzebub  was  the  first 
Abolitionist ;  he  took  Job's  sen-ants 
from  him.' 

"Well,  everybody  seemed  dread- 
fully excited,  and  I  own  I  was  too, 
or  I  should  never  have  spoken  right 


i56 


In   Bonds. 


out  in  meetin'  as  I  did  then.  'All 
that's  very  true, '  said  I,  '  and  it  strikes 
me  he  was  the  first  Secessionist,  too, 
for  we've  all  read  how  centuries  be- 
fore Job  was  born — the  Devil  was 
kicked  out  of  Heaven  for  tryin'  to 
create  a  division  there  !' 

"Well,  Claude,  you  never  saw 
such  a  commotion  in  your  life  as 
there  was  then — leastways  in  meetin'. 
All  the  people  sprang  to  their  feet 
and  shouted,  and  laughed,  and  hiss- 
ed ;  and  Norton,  he  just  pulled  me 
out  of  the  crowd,  and  put  me  into 
the  carriage,  and  drove  home  like 
one  possessed.  You  never  did  see 
such  a  time,  and  they  say  the  officers 
at  Foustville  didn't  get  a  recruit  for 
a  week  afterwards. " 

Claude  laughed,  but  Mrs.  Holmes 
frowned,  and  shook  her  head,  warn- 
ingly,  as  he  mounted  his  horse,  and 
signaled  for  the  carriages  to  proceed. 

The  drive  to  Foustville  was  most 
delightful.  The  road  lay  through 
six  miles  of  pine  forest,  the  unchang- 
ing verdure  of  which  formed  a  strik- 
ing contrast  to  the  scarlet  and  brown 
leaves  of  the  vines  that  clothed  their 
tapering  trunks.  The  greater  num- 
ber of  the  party  were  sorry  to  reach 
Foustville,  a  pleasant  village,  which 
had  been  chosen  for  the  place  of 
meeting  on  account  of  its  central  lo- 
cation, and  also  of  the  large  range  of 
' '  old  fields"  which  lay  at  the  back  of 
the  town,  and  formed  an  excellent 
ground  for  the  exhibition  of  the 
county  volunteers. 

To  this  ground  the  carriages  were 
driven,  and  the  gentlemen,  who  were 
on  horseback,  after  some  difficulty, 
opened  a  passage  for  them,  to  a  point 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  speak- 
er's stand. 


Never  had  such  a  crowd  met  in  the 
county  before  ;  persons  of  all  ages, 
sex,  and  color  were  there,  striving 
with  each  other  for  precedence,  and 
conversing  loudly  on  the  all  engross- 
ing subject  of  war. 

Ubiquitous  among  them  seemed 
Mr.  Gordon,  who  hastened  from  one 
part  of  the  field  to  the  other  with  a 
smile  or  a  word  for  every  one.  At 
length  he  espied  the  Holmsford  car- 
riages which,  either  by  accident  or 
design,  had  been  placed  in  a  most 
conspicuous  position.  This  was  par- 
ticularly annoying  to  La  Guerita,  who, 
sitting  in  the  open  carriage,  soon  dis- 
covered herself  to  be  the  observed  of 
all  observers. 

Claude  Leveredge  remained  on 
horseback  at  the  side  of  her  carriage, 
talking  restlessly,  to  the  children,  and 
noting  with  many  conflicting  emo- 
tions, the  glances  of  admiration  cast 
upon  La  Guerita.  A  party  of  gen- 
tlemen passed  by,  and  one  of  them 
speaking  more  distinctly  than  the 
bustle  around  allowed  him  to  sup- 
pose, said  : 

"Who  can  that  beautiful  creature 
be  ? " 

' '  Zenobia, "  answered  his  com- 
panion, Will.  Russell,  "  a  queen  in 
chains." 

"Ah,  a  governess,  you  mean. 
What  a  pity, "  returned  the  other ; 
' '  yet  there  is  something  queer-look- 
ing about  her  with  all  her  beauty. " 

The  young  men  passed  out  of 
hearing,  and  turning  toward  her  with 
flashing  eyes,  Claude  Leveredge  said 
in  a  low  voice  : 

"  Can  you  bear  such  irony  as  that 
— a  queen  in  chains.  Can  you  bear 
the  laugh  that  will  follow  the  expla- 
nation of  that  witticism?  Say  no, 


In  Bonds. 


1S7 


no,  before  it  is  too  late,  and   I  will 
take  you  home. '' 

She  was  sorely  tempted  then.  She 
was  perhaps  more  sensitive  to  ridi- 
cule than  to  anything  else,  and  Will. 
Russell's  careless  words  had  stung 
her  cruelly,  and  she  doubted  not  that 
worse  would  come  before  she  left  that 
field. 

"Oh, "she  thought,  "if  it  were 
possible  for  me  to  escape  it  with 
honor.  But  there  is  not.  No  honor 
could  follow  a  marriage  with  him. 
Yet  anything  would  be  better  than 
these  chains.  But  no,  no  ;  not  any- 
Iking  !  "  she  added  with  a  shudder  ; 
' '  to  lose  my  soul  would  be  worse. 
No,  I  will  not  yield.  I  will  bear  any 
torture,  but  I  will  not  yield  myself  to 
infamy. " 

Claude  Leveredge  read  that  deter- 
mination upon  her  face,  and  turned 
away  with  a  curse. 

' '  I  will  not  be  baffled, "  he  mut- 
tered, as  he  dismounted,  and  walked 
rapidly  to  the  speakers'  stand.  ' '  I 
love  her,  and  my  love  is  deeper  and 
more  terrible  than  my  strongest  ha- 
tred. I  cannot  have  mercy.  I  will 
kill  her,  or  yet  call  her  mine. " 

The  exercises  of  the  day  were  soon 
commenced.  The  County  Guard  and 
Volunteers  performed  a  variety  of 
of  evolutions  which  were  greatly  ad- 
mired and  vociferously  applauded  by 
the  vast  assemblage.  Then  speeches 
were  made  by  several  gentlemen,  dur- 
ing which  Claude  Leveredge  and 
Mr.  Gordon  stood  in  earnest  con- 
versation near  the  Holmsford  car- 
riage. 

"Your  name  will  be  called  next,'' 
said  the  lawyer  at  length,  as  Will. 
Russell,  in  his  gay  captain's  uniform, 
took  his  place  upon  the  stand.  "As 


you  have  as  yet  done  nothing,  you 
must  at  least  assure  the  people  that 
you  will.  Prepare  yourself,  Russell 
will  soon  be  finished.  I  prophecy 
that  he  will  make  a  much  better  fight- 
er than  orator. " 

' '  All  the  better  for  the  Confeder- 
acy then, "  returned  Leveredge.  ' '  But 
you  forget  that  I  simply  promised  the 
committee  to  speak  a  few  words  after 
the  orator  of  the  day — the  Hon.  Er- 
nest Gordon." 

' '  I  warn  you  he  will  leave  you  no 
chance,"  returned  the  lawyer,  laugh- 
ing ;  "he  intends  to  exhaust  the 
subject.  So  speak  before  him — the 
people  will  expect  it  of  you. " 

' '  They,  like  other  sovereigns,  must 
sometimes  submit  to  be  disappoint- 
ed," replied  Leveredge  ;  "I  wTill 
speak  after  you  to-day,  or  not  at  all. 
Of  course,  you  are  prepared.  Go, 
now  ;  let  us  have  a  specimen  of  your 
finest  oratory." 

"That  you  shall,"  returned  the 
lawyer,  walking  with  great  dignity  to 
the  platform,  while  his  late  com- 
panion took  a  position  at  the  side  of 
his  aunt's  carriage,  and  with  folded 
arms,  and  gloomy  brow,  waited  the 
announcement  of  Ernest  Gordon's 
name. 

Soon  it  was  made,  and  a  general 
movement  of  increased  attention  was 
visible  among  the  vast  audience  as 
the  popular  lawyer  stepped  forward 
to  address  them.  As  his  pro-slavery 
opinions  were  well  known,  it  was 
generally  supposed  he  would  again 
declare  and  strenuously  uphold  them. 
But  this,  at  first,  seemed  far  from  his 
thoughts,  for  he  spoke  of  the  war  as 
a  grand  necessity,  solely  that  the  chiv- 
alrous South  might  free  itself  at  once 
and  forever  from  the  encroachments 


158 


In  Bonds. 


of  a  race  of  mountebanks  and  ped- 
dlers. Then  he  spoke  of  the  glorious 
age  that  would  follow  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  feat,  picturing  in  the 
choicest  terms  the  wealth  and  distinc- 
tion each  scion  of  the  white  race 
would  acquire  by  means  of  the  cotton 
and  tobacco  of  the  South,  the  tri- 
umphant result  of  the  labor  of  their 
slaves.  From  that  point  slavery  was 
his  theme.  He  spoke  of  it  first  from 
a  political  point  of  view,  and  success- 
fully proved  to  himself  and  his  audi- 
tors that  no  government  could  be 
sustained  which  had  not  the  ' '  divine 
institution  "  as  its  basis. 

La  Guerita  and  Miss  Holmes,  in 
common  with  the  entire  audience, 
listened  to  the  orator  with  delight. 
His  command  of  words,  his  extraor- 
dinary ingenuity  in  their  application, 
all  tended  to  charm  even  where  they 
could  not  convince,  and  impressed 
the  excitable  mind  of  La  Guerita  as 
if  they  had  held  the  very  spirit  of 
truth,  instead  of  the  base  and  hollow 
ring  of  falsehood. 

"How  will  he  prove  the  benefit  of 
slavery  from  a  social  and  Christian 
view  !  "  she  asked  herself,  as  his  in- 
tention to  do  so  was  declared.  ' '  Ah, 
if  he  can  only  from  those  points  ex- 
hibit it  in  a  light  as  favorable  as  he 
has  from  the  political,  I  shall  myself 
be  induced  to  bear  it  unmurmur- 
ingly." 

Unseen  by  her,  Claude  Leveredge 
was  watching  her  with  undeviating 
gaze.  He  smiled  grimly  as  he  saw 
her  head  bend  forward  in  an  attitude 
of  increased  attention,  and  fix  her 
eyes  intently  upon  the  orator.  He 
had  been  speaking  for  more  than  an 
hour,  but  not  for  a  moment  had  the 
attention  of  the  audience,  or  his  own 


energy,  wavered.  He  continued  stead- 
ily and  enthusiastically  pointing  out 
the  vast  difference  of  the  state  of  the 
negro  in  his  native  country  and  that 
enjoyed  by  him  in  the  South.  ' '  There 
he  is  naked,  ignorant,  barbarous, "  he 
exclaimed  ;  ' '  here  he  is  clothed  and 
fed,  subjected  only  to  wholesome  re- 
strictions, and  made  happy  by  the 
truths  and  consolations  of  the  Chris- 
tian faith.  Under  the  protection  of 
a  master  he  is  free  from  all  cares  that 
oppress  others.  Guided  in  his  natu- 
ral imbecility,  he  by  this  means  be- 
comes a  rational  creature,  a  blessing 
to  himself  and  the  land  that  supports 
him.  Left  to  himself  his  small  mind 
refuses  to  control  the  mass  of  bone 
and  sinew  in  which  it  dwells,  and  the 
semblance  of  man  is  degraded  to  the 
useless  position  of  a  beast.  A  negro 
left  to  his  own  resources  has  scarcely 
even  the  instinct  of  an  animal  to  pro- 
vide food  and  escape  from  danger. 
The  negro  was  born  to  be  a  slave  ;  it 
is  a  necessity  of  his  nature  to  rely  up- 
on the  stronger  intellect  of  the  white, 
and  woe  to  him  of  the  superior  race 
who  neglects  and  disavows  this  man- 
ifest duty  to  a  fellow  mortal  and  to  his 
God  !  " 

Long  did  he  speak  after  this  man- 
ner, adding  argument  upon  argu- 
ment, proof  upon  proof.  Again  and 
again  he  reiterated  the  words  :  ' '  The 
instinct  of  the  negro  teaches  him  to 
find  relief  from  the  cares  and  respon- 
sibilities of  life  in  the  sympathy  and 
protection  of  a  master. " 

' '  And  yet, "  at  length  cried  a  voice 
from  the  crowd,  ' '  our  slaves  run  away 
from  us." 

"Ay,  and  return  to  prove  my 
words, "  said  Mr.  Gordon,  firmly. 

There  was  a  laugh,  and  a  shout 


In  Bonds. 


159 


from  some  one  of :   "  We  have  never 
seen  cne." 

"There  is  one  here,"  cried  Mr. 
Gordon,  glancing  at  La  Guerita,  who 
sank  back  in  her  seat  in  speechless 
terror  and  shame.  "There  is  one 
here  !  She  came  to  me  more  than  a 
year  ago — the  most  beautiful  woman 
my  eyes  ever  rested  upon.  '  I  was 
born  a  slave, '  she  said,  '  and  my  mas- 
ter freed  me  when  I  was  an  infant. 
He  sent  me  North,  and  there,  in  ig- 
norance of  my  birth  I  was  most  ex- 
cellently educated,  and  married  a 
wealthy  and  high-born  gentleman. 
Some  years  after  the  marriage  my 
husband  discovered  the  secret  of  my 
birth,  and  died  of  shame  and  grief. 
I  am  rich,  I  have  friends,  but  I  can 
find  no  peace.  I  must  cast  the  bur- 
den of  my  existence  upon  another.  I 
have  come  here  with  my  child  to  enter 
into  slavery  ! ' 

' '  Friends,  I  reasoned,  I  plead  with 
her,  but  in  vain.  A  slave  she  would 
become,  a  slave  she  is  here  to-day — 
contented  and  happy.  Yes,  there 
she  sits  in  the  carriage  of  her  master, 
Norton  Holmes.  She  who  was  once 
the  belle  of  Ellisville,  the  wife  of 
Harold  DeGrey,  whom  some  of  you 
knew  in  your  school-days — there  she 
sits,  the  happy  slave  Rita. " 

He  attempted  to  say  more,  but  his 
voice  was  drowned  in  shouts  and 
applause,  and  he  left  the  stand  amid 
cries  of:  "Where  is  the  woman? 
Where  is  the  self-made  slave  ? " 

La  Guerita  heard  the  roar  of  their 
voices  like  that  of  the  great  sea- waves. 
She  struggled  and  strove  to  rise,  as  if 
it  were  possible  for  her  to  flee.  Her 
strength  and  senses  alike  deserted 
her,  and  she  fell  back  into  the  arms 
of  Miss  Holmes  and  Claude  Lever- 


edge,  who  had  both  entered  the  car- 
riage." 

' '  You  shall  not  touch  her !  "  cried 
Miss  Holmes,  fiercely,  as  her  cousin 
attempted  to  raise  La  Guerita  in  his 
arms.  ' '  Traitor,  villain,  that  you  are, 
leave  this  poor  girl  before  God  strikes 
you  to  the  earth  for  your  wickedness. 
See,  she  is  returning  to  conscious- 
ness. Leave  her,  unless  you  wish  to 
complete  the  work  you  have  begun — 
to  kill  her  outright !  " 

Claude  Leveredge  drew  back  from 
his  cousin  in  consternation.  He 
glanced  at  La  Guerita,  muttering : 
"I  have  made  you  feel  your  master 
to-day  !  I  did  not  know  I  had  Adela 
Holmes  to  conquer,  too." 

He  sprang  from  the  carriage,  but 
turned  quickly  as  a  scream  of  horror 
from  Adela,  and  a  cry  of :  "  She  has 
killed  herself !  "  reached  him.  He 
sprang  again  into  the  carriage.  ^  He 
caught  La  Guerita  in  his  arms ;  a 
purple  stream  was  flowing  from  her 
mouth  and  dying  her  neck  and  dress. 

' '  A  doctor,  a  doctor  !  "  he  cried  ; 
' '  she  has  broken  a  blood-vessel — she 
is  dying  !  Oh,  God,  help  !  help  !  " 

He  wrung  his  hands  in  the  help- 
lessness of  despair.  Three  doctors 
were  near  and  hastened  to  the  car- 
riage. In  an  incredibly  short  time 
the  hemorrhage  was  arrested,  and  La 
Guerita  DeCuba  slowly  came  back  to 
life. 

Oh,  the  cruel  people,  the  soulless 
crowd  that  pressed  around.  Their 
eyes  seemed  piercing  her  like  arrows 
of  scorn,  their  tongues  lashing  her 
with  contempt !  She  realized  it  all, 
and  buried  her  face  in  Miss  Holmes' 
bosom,  and  madly  prayed  to  die. 

But  she  lived — lived  to  give  the  lie 
to  the  lawyer's  false  words,  for  the 


i6o 


In  Bonds. 


people  turned  away  pitying  a  slave, 
trying  in  vain  to  silence  doubts 
which  had  never  troubled  their  minds 
before. 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

"  I  falter  where  I  firmly  trod, 

And  falling  with  my  weight  of  cares 
Upon  the  great  world's  altar-stairs, 
That  slope  thro'  darkness  up  to  God; 
I  stretch  lame  hands  of  faith,  and  grope, 
And  gather  dust  and  chaff,  and  call 
To  what  I  feel  is  Lord  of  all, 
And  faintly  trust  the  larger  hope." 

Tennyson. 

THENCEFORWARD  for  many  months 
there  was  almost  a  blank  in  the  life 
of  La  Guerita  DeCuba — a  time  when 
she  hovered  between  life  and  death — 
sanity  and  madness. 

For  weeks  she  lay  in  her  darkened 
room,  utterly  exhausted,  both  in  body 
and  mind,  incapable  of  movement  or 
thought ;  and  during  all  that  time 
Miss  Holmes  never  left  her  cabin. 
Another,  too,  was  there,  of  whom, 
for  a  long  time,  La  Guerita  took  no 
heed,  but  who  watched  and  tended 
her  with  the  untiring  zeal  and  ten- 
derness a  mother  only  could  know. 

At  first  they  feared  she  would  drop 
into  a  state  of  hopeless  imbecility 
and  speedily  decline;  but  as  time 
passed  the  strength  of  her  corporeal 
and  mental  natures  exhibited  them- 
selves, and  they  gained  hope  that  her 
recovery  was  but  a  question  of  time. 

Claude  Leveredge  was  the  first  to 
seize  that  hope.  Almost  maddened 
as  he  had  at  first  been  by  the  effect  of 
his  cruel  plot,  he  soon  grew  to  look 
upon  it  as  a  necessary  consequence, 
and  as  essential  to  his  success.  To 
his  cousin  he  did  not  attempt  to  dis- 
guise his  thoughts,  and,  meeting  her 
in  the  garden  one  day,  told  her  calm- 
ly he  was  only  biding  his  time,  but 


waiting  for  health  and  sanity  to  be 
re-established  ere  making  La  Gue- 
rita his  bride. 

' '  You  will  not  so  disgrace  us, "  she 
said,  proudly. 

' '  What !  by  marrying  one  of  the 
inferior  race  ? " 

' '  Yes  !  "  she  answered,  firmly  ; 
"that  would  disgrace  us,  while  it 
remains  impossible  for  you  to  make 
her  your  legitimate  wife  in  any  part 
of  the  world — while  you  must  live 
with  her  in  solitude — while  you  dare 
not  mention  your  affection  to  any 
Southron  but  me,  whom  you  cannot 
deceive. " 

"I  would  declare  it  before  the 
whole  world  !  " 

"That  is  false!"  she  said,  con- 
temptuously ;  "I  know  how  you 
have  stooped  to  deceive  my  father 
and  Mr.  Gordon.  Oh,  Claude, 
Claude,  may  I  die  before  I  see  an- 
other of  my  family  so  utterly  de- 
praved as  you  !  " 

' '  You  give  me  a  good  character, " 
he  said  ;  "is  it,  then,  a  sign  of  utter 
depravity  to  love  as  I  love  La  Gue- 
rita— to  live  only  in  the  hope  of  mak- 
ing her  my  wife  ?  " 

"Claude,  I  would  give  a  fortune 
to  know  if  what  I  heard  of  you  last 
year  is  true. " 

He  laughed  :  "I  am  not  a  fool, 
Adela." 

' '  I  should  consider  any  other  man 
in  your  position  one.  Can  a  man  be 
called  rational  who  sets  his  whole 
mind  and  heart — yes,  risks  his  very 
soul — upon  the  poor  aim  of  marry- 
ing a  woman  that  hates  him  ?  " 

' '  La  Guerita  does  not  hate  me  !  " 
he  cried,  excitedly  ;  "I  will  stake 
my  life  on  that.  Love,  such  as  mine, 
must  beget  love  again. " 


In  Bonds. 


161 


' '  Claude,  don't  force  me  to  add 
to  your  other  qualities  that  of  a  ro- 
mantic dreamer." 

Her  quiet  tone  of  contempt  was 
most  galling  to  him.  ' '  You  shall 
see, "  he  said  ;  "I  know  Le  Guerita 
DeCuba  better  than  you.  I  only  wait 
for  her  to  regain  strength  of  mind 
and  body  to  take  her  from  your  pow- 
er. It  is  you,  Adela  Holmes,  that  I 
have  been  fighting  against  all  this 
time.  The  battle  would  have  been 
shorter  hadj  known  that  sooner." 

His  cousin  was  terrified  ;  she  felt 
that  she  had  a  desperate  game  to 
play,  almost  single-handed  ;  she  felt 
almost  powerless  while  her  cousin  re- 
mained upon  the  plantation  ;  but  at 
last,  happily  for  her,  there  came  upon 
him  so  great  a  pressure  from  without 
that  he  was  compelled  to  choose  one 
of  two  alternatives — to  leave  the  coun- 
try, or  to  take  the  sword  in  its  de- 
fense ;  and,  to  Adela's  delight,  she 
was  at  last  free  of  his  dreaded  pres- 
ence. 

The  news  of  his  departure  was  the 
first  that  aroused  or  excited  La  Gue- 
rita in  the  slightest  degree.  After 
hearing  it,  she  seemed  to  rally  slow- 
ly. ' '  I  was  like  a  deer  hunted 
down, "  she  said,  one  day,  ' '  and  now 
I  feel  that  the  dogs  are  held  back, 
and  breathing  time  is  given  me. " 

After  that  she  took  some  slight  no- 
tice of  passing  events,  and  lay  for 
long  hours  with  her  eyes  fixed  sadly 
upon  her  mother,  or  upon  the  bless- 
ed words  of  her  bible,  which  seemed 
then  to  contain  the  germs  of  divine 
consolation  and  strength. 

At  last  there  came   a  time   when 
her  mother  bade  her  farewell,  and  re- 
turned to  her  own  lonely  home,  and 
La  Guerita  once  more  took  her  place 
21 


in  the  school-room,  changed  both  in 
body  and  mind  —  in  both  a  mere 
wreck  of  her  former  self.  There  was 
no  trace  of  madness  about  her,  but 
her  mind  seemed  like  that  of  some 
aged  person  slowly  becoming  blank. 

Miss  Holmes,  with  all  her  acute- 
ness,  did  not  understand  this,  and 
fortunate  it  was  that  she  did  not,  or 
she  would,  in  pity,  have  avoided  the 
discussion  of  those  subjects  which 
alone  could  command  her  thoughts, 
which,  as  months  passed,  served  to 
rally  her  failing  senses.  Two  things 
alone  sustained  her  through  that 
time — fear  of  Claude  Leveredge,  and 
trust  in  God.  Worldly  hopes  she 
had  none,  but  while  she  was  left  in 
peace,  she  almost  hoped  to  die  in 
slavery,  that  her  presence  might  not 
embitter  the  freedom  of  her  boy. 

She  said  something  of  that  some- 
times to  Miss  Holmes,  entreating 
her  that  she  would  not  compromise 
herself  further  in  any  attempt  for  her 
rescue,  saying  no  more  of  shame 
would  befall  her  in  slavery,  and  feel- 
ing, as  months  passed  on,  and  Claude 
Leveredge  still  remained  away,  that 
she  could  wait  with  patience  until  the 
gates  of  her  prison  were  unbarred. 

"They  will  be,"  she  said,  "in  the 
Lord's  good  time,  if  not  for  me,  at 
least  for  my  child. " 

' '  'Tis  strange  to  see  you  so  tran- 
quil, "  said  Miss  Holmes,  one  day  as 
she  was  sitting  with  La  Guerita  in 
her  cabin.  ' '  One  thing  only  seems 
to  arouse  you  now — to  fill  you  with 
your  former  zeal  for  freedom — that 
is,  the  fear  of  my  cousin  Claude. " 

' '  Yes,  that  cannot  be  overcome, " 
replied  La  Guerita  quickly  ;  I  can- 
not forget  how  he  has  tortured  me. 
But  yet  my  reason  tells  me,  I  have 


162 


In    Bonds. 


no  cause  for  fear.     He  has  yielded, 
and  war  is  now  his  only  love." 

Miss  Holmes  remembered  the  con- 
versation in  the  garden. 

' '  I  would  not  be  too  sure  of  that, " 
she  said,  ' '  his  duties  bind  him  close- 
ly, no  doubt,  but  still  I  am  convinced 
he  is  keeping  strict  watch  over  you. 
His  regularly  conducted  correspond- 
ence with  Rufus  is  not  kept  up  from 
mere  love  of  the  boy,  but  because  of 
the  information  he  unwittingly  gives 
of  you.  For  a  time,  you  know,  you 
seemed  lost  and  childish,  yet  at  times 
exhibiting  passions  which  would  ut- 
terly prevent  his  influencing  you. 
Now  that  is  passing  away,  you  have 
returned  to  that  condition  in  which 
he  may  hope  to  strive  with  you,  as 
most  rationally-minded  men  strive 
with  rationally-minded  women,  and 
to  conquer,  as  they  usually  do,  laying 
heart  and  reason  beneath  their  un- 
bending will.  You  know  I  am  a 
true  woman,  and  believe  in  the  su- 
premacy of  man.  If  I  had  been  in 
your  place,  I  should  have  yielded  to 
my  cousin  long  ago.  As  a  looker- 
on  I  can  scheme  and  advise  where  I 
should  utterly  fail  if  I  was  personally 
concerned. " 

La  Guerita  smiled,  remembering 
what  she  had  heard  in  the  sitting- 
room  months  before,  and  how  Miss 
Holmes  had  been  sorely  tried  since  by 
the  entreaties  of  a  later  lover,  to  for- 
sake that  one  her  friends  condemned 
as  a  villain  and  a  traitor.  La  Guerita 
saw  that  she  thought  of  it,  too,  for 
she  began  to  speak  of  a  recent  battle, 
which  had  resulted  in  great  slaughter 
on  both  sides,  and  ended  her  sentence 
with  a  flood  of  tears. 

Miss  Matilda  entered  the  cabin  at 
that  moment,  exclaiming  : 


"  I  thought  I  would  find  you  here. 
One  would  think  you  could  see 
enough  of  negro  cabins  without  liv- 
ing in  one  half  your  time.  You'll 
leave  it  now  for  awhile,  I  dare  say,  for 
Asenith  Bray  is  in  the  house  askin' 
for  you.  You'll  have  to  speak  pretty 
loud  to  make  yourself  heard,"  she 
added,  as  her  niece  rose  and  left  the 
cabin,  ' '  for  the  poor  old  soul  seems 
to  be  gettin'  deafer  and  deafer  every 
day. "  It  is  astonishing  to  see  how 
some  folks  break  down.v  Why,  I'm 
just  as  spry  now  as  ever  I  was  in  my 
life." 

She  stayed  a  few  moments  to  rate 
La  Guerita,  in  a  sharp  tone,  for  some 
imaginary  offense,  and  then  went  to 
see  after  the  welfare  of  ' '  Dixey, "  who 
still  lived  with  his  broken  leg  in  a 
horizontal  position,  and  his  entire 
frame  drawn  into  the  most  grotesque 
shape  ever  assumed  by  beast  or  fowl. 

In  a  short  time  afterwards,  La 
Guerita  saw  Asenith  returning  to  her 
home,  and  almost  at  the  same  mo- 
ment Miss  Holmes  entered  the  cabin, 
exclaiming  : 

' '  Prepare  yourself  instantly  for  a 

ride  to  M .     Your  mother  is  ill, 

and  has  sent  for  you. " 

"  But  will  Mr.  Holmes  allow  me 
to  go  ? "  cried  La  Guerita,  anxiously  ; 
''You  know  he  has  not  permitted 
me  to  leave  the  plantation  for  nearly 
a  year. " 

"That  is  all  settled,"  returned 
Miss  Holmes,  "  I  have  ordered  the 
carriage,  and  shall  go  with  you. " 

In  a  short  time  they  were  on  their 

way  to  M .     Many  and  varied 

were  the  emotions  of  La  Guerita  as 
she  entered  the  town,  in  which  three 
years  before  she  had  signed  away  her 
freedom. 


In  Bonds. 


' '  Oh,  not  there,  not  there, "  she  ex- 
claimed, when  Miss  Holmes  directed 
the  driver  to  the  hotel. 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
after  she  had  for  a  moment  consider- 
ed the  matter,  ' '  but  we  really  have 
no  other  place  to  go  to.  Mrs.  Gor- 
don is  the  only  person  upon  whose 
kindness  I  would  presume,  and  I 
suppose  you  would  rather  go  to  the 
hotel  than  there. " 

' '  Oh,  yes,  yes, "  said  La  Guerita, 
eagerly,  adding  mentally,  as  she  strove 
to  lay  aside  the  fearful  shame  and  ter- 
ror of  strangers  that  had  haunted  her 
since  that  dreadful  scene  at  Foust- 
ville,  ' '  after  all,  I  may  not  be  recog- 
nized in  this  dress,  and  in  the  even- 
ing light.  God  support  me  if  I  am." 

She  needed  that  support,  for  the 
hall  was  ablaze  with  light,  and  a  score 
*of  eager  eyes  were  bent  upon  her  as 
the  landlord  involuntarily  exclaimed  : 

"What,  have  you  come  back? 
Well,  well ;  if  you're  being  one  of 
them  octoroons  didn't  beat  all.  And 
there's  the  boy,  too.  Well  I  never." 

"Show  us  to  our  rooms,"  said 
Miss  Holmes,  sternly,  and  startled  by 
the  unusual  tone  of  command,  the 
host  preceded  them  up  stairs  to  the 
very  rooms  occupied  by  La  Guerita 
three  years  before. 

"Oh,  my  God!"  she  thought, 
"  if  I  could  but  recall  them.  Ah,  if 
I  could  but  place  myself  now  where 
I  was  then  ;  and  yet  not  altogether, 
Oh,  Lord,  for  then  I  knew  not  thee. 
Then  I  hated  the  mother  I  have  now 
come,  in  love  and  forgiveness,  to  see 
die  ! " 

She  would  not  stay  at  the  hotel 
even  for  some  slight  refreshment,  but 
taking  Harold  with  her,  hastened  to 
her  mother's  cottage.  The  child 


recognized  it  at  once,  and  though  it 
seemed  no  different  to  her  from  a 
score  of  others,  it  was  rendered  sa- 
cred to  her  at  once  by  the  scene 
within  that  met  her  view. 

The  room  was  comfortably  fur- 
nished and  scrupulously  clean.  Upon 
the  walls  hung  a  few  highly-colored 
prints,  and  a  bright  homespun  car- 
pet covered  the  floor,  showing  at 
once  the  station  and  taste  of  the  oc- 
cupant of  the  little  cabin.  She  lay 
upon  the  bed,  heedless  of  all  that  had 
once  delighted  her,  her  olive  face 
contrasting  painfully  with  the  snow- 
white  pillows  which  an  old  negress 
was  carefully  smoothing.  Silently 
and  softly  La  Guerita  entered  the 
cabin  and  approached  her  dying 
mother. 

' '  Oh,  Death,  where  is  thy  sting  ? " 
Oft  thou  bringest  to  us  love  sought  for 
in  vain  through  life.  Thou  broughtest 
it  then  to  Dolores  from  the  heart  of 
her  daughter.  As  La  Guerita  looked 
upon  that  death-like  face,  with  the 
holy  shadow  of  another  world  falling 
over  it,  she  forgot  the  woman  that  had 
sinned,  and  wept  for  her  mother. 

"Thank  God  you  are  here,.;7  said 
the  dying  woman,  faintly  ;  ' '  thank 
God  you  are  in  time  to  see  me  die. " 

' '  Xo,  rather  to  nurse  you  back  to 
life,"  sobbed  La  Guerita.  "Oh, 
mother,  mother,  you  must  not  die 
wrhen  I  have  just  begun  to  love  you. " 

1 '  Tis  better  that  it  should  be  so, " 
she  whispered.  "  I  am  ignorant  and 
have  sinned.  You  could  not  love 
me  if  I  lived,  perhaps  you  will  when 
I  am  dead  ;  and  my  boy,  too,  when 
he  knows — my  pretty,  pretty  boy  !  " 

Fabean  was  always  a  child  to  her. 
For  some  time  La  Guerita  wept  in  si- 
lence. Those  tears— that  natural  and 


164 


In  Bonds. 


quiet  grief— seemed  to  strengthen  her. 
She  felt  again  the  bonds  that  hold 
other  women  to  life  and  its  duties, 
and  that  a  holy  one  was  that  of 
smoothing  a  mother's  pathway  to  the 
grave. 

Dolores  was  an  ardent  Methodist, 
and  at  intervals  poured  forth  her  soul 
in  snatches  of  hymns  and  prayer.  All 
were  of  Heaven,  of  home,  and  rest. 
Rude  as  they  were,  they  were  to  La 
Guerita  sweet  as  the  words  of  angels. 
Bending  over  her  mother  she  said,  at 
last  : 

' '  You  are  happy,  then,  dear  moth- 
er, perfectly  happy  ? " 

' '  Oh,  yes,  so  happy  and  peaceful. 
Angels  have  been  around  me  all  the 
day.  They  have  waited  for  me  many, 
many  hours,  but  I  couldn't  go  with- 
out one  look  on  you.  Oh,  my 
daughter,  tell  me  I  am  forgiven." 

' '  Dear  mother,  I  have  nothing  to 
forgive.  To  God,  God  alone,  you 
should  appeal.'' 

A  peaceful  smile  overspread  the  face 
of  the  dying  woman.  She  spoke  no 
more  for  some  moments,  and  then 
her  mind  seemed  wandering. 

' '  ]£iss  the  boy, "  she  murmured  ; 
4 '  kiss  my  little  son,  and  tell  him  how 
I  have  mourned  for  him.  When  he 
grows  to  be  a  man  he  will  understand 
and  forgive  me.  He  is  like  Acton  ; 
he  will  have  the  same  heart,  you 
know. " 

' '  Oh,  mother,  mother, "  cried  La 
Guerita,  unable  to  restrain  her  emo- 
tion, "do  you  not  remember  that 
Fabean  is  now  a  man.  Give  me 
some  message  that  I  may  give  him 
from  his  mother  when  I  am  free. " 

' '  Free,  free  !  Oh,  God,  yes,  I  forgot. 
You  are  a  slave  !  "  The  dying  woman 
raised  herself  upon  the  pillows  with 


almost  superhuman  energy,  and  gazed 
upon  her  wildly.  "Oh,  my  child, 
those  bonds  !  those  bonds  !  They 
are  worse  than  death.  And  Claude — 
Claude  Leveredge !  Oh,  fly  from 

him,  fly  !  for  I  know  he .     Oh, 

my  God,  this  is — death — this — is — 
death  !  " 

She  strove  in  vain  to  speak  further. 
She  clasped  her  daughter's  hands  in 
an  agony  of  despair ;  she  struggled  to 
utter  but  one  word,  which  La  Guerita 
knew  must  be  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance, but  all  in  vain. 

Rapidly  the  last  changes  came  up- 
on her.  The  death-rattle  sounded  in 
her  throat,  her  eyes  became  fixed 
upon  her  daughter,  who  even  in  her 
grief  was  comforted  when  some  one 
entered  the  cabin  softly,  and  she  felt 
instinctively  that  Miss  Holmes  was  at 
her  side. 

Shortly  after  the  dying  woman  be- 
came composed,  and  at  last  for  some 
time  was  so  still  that  the  watchers 
were  uncertain  whether  she  lived  or 
not.  Then  they  saw  the  glazed  eyes 
turned  Heavenward,  and,  sinking 
upon  her  knees,  La  Guerita  poured 
forth  an  impassioned  prayer  for  the 
passing  soul. 

Colder  and  colder  grew  the  hand 
she  held,  and  ere  long  it  stiffened 
within  her  grasp,  and  a  faint,  strug- 
ling  sigh  gave  her  the  tidings  that  her 
mother's  spirit  had  passed  beyond  the 
reach  or  necessity  of  prayer  or  psalm. 

She  arose  then  and  looked  with 
tears  upon  the  dark  and  still  beautiful 
face  of  the  dead,  and  pressing  a  kiss 
upon  the  faintly  smiling  lips,  repeated 
those  words  of  comfort  which  have 
filled  with  peace  many  a  doubting 
soul  :  "  Her  sins,  which  were  many, 
are  forgiven,  for  she  loved  much. " 


In  Bonds. 


i65 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

41  True  friends  visit  us  in  prosperity  only  when 
invited;  but  in  adversity  they  come  without  invita- 
tion." 

Theophntftat. 

THE  little  cabin  was  closed  and  ten- 
antless.  Dolores  Holmes  had  found 
another  home,  and  at  last  slept  peace- 
fully beneath  the  waving  pines  on  the 
hill-side.  Upon  the  day  of  her  bu- 
rial her  sins  had  been  forgotten,  and 
the  lowly  friends,  and  the  daughter 
who  had  scorned  her  for  years,  wept 
over  her  as  one  without  guile.  As 
she  turned  awa^from  the  lowly  cot- 
tage, La  Guerita  rejoiced  that  there 
had  been  lamentation  and  .mourn- 
ing, for  she  said :  "I  can  tell  Fa- 
bean  of  it ;  it  will  comfort  him  in 
his  shame  to  know  that  our  mother 
was  beloved. " 

She  walked  thoughtfully  through 
the  little  lane,  and  entered  the  hotel. 
She  was  painfully  conscious  of  the 
curious  glances  of  all  she  met,  and 
for  that  reason,  as  well  as  the  indul- 
gence of  her  sad  thoughts,  was  glad 
to  find  herself  for  once  truly  alone. 
When  she  entered  the  sitting-room 
she  found  Mrs.  Holmes  and  Harold 
both  absent,  and  sitting  down,  medi- 
tated upon  the  life  that  had  begun 
in  that  very  apartment,  and  which, 
henceforth,  was  to  be  borne  with  one 
friend  less  on  earth,  but  with  one 
more,  she  trusted,  in  that  heavenly 
throng  that  loved  and  guarded  her. 

The  shrill  scream  of  the  railway 
whistle  startled  her  at  last.  "  Ah  !  " 
she  thought,  ' '  how  I  used  to  shrink 
from  that  sound  when  I  sat  in  this 
room  waiting — imploring — my  fate  ! 
How  I  feared  it  might  herald  the 
coming  of  Fabean  or  Victor  to  tear 
me  from  my  cherished  purpose. 


Oh,  if  I  could  but  imagine  it  such 
now,  how  even  the  vain  fancy  would 
comfort  me ;  but,  alas !  my  friends 
can  gain  no  entrance  here  !  I  must 
wait — wait  for  the  Lord's  own  time. 
But  it  will  come ;  it  needs  must 
come.  He  will  not  leave  His  peo- 
ple in  this  terrible  bondage  !  Are 
not  their  shackles  already  loosened  ? 
Oh,  Lord,  hasten  the  day  when  every 
yoke  shall  be  broken,  and  the  op- 
pressed go  free  !  " 

In  her  enthusiasm  she  had  spoken 
the  last  words  aloud.  ' '  Amen  ! " 
said  a  voice  behind  her,  and,  turn- 
ing, she  beheld  Miss  Holmes,  with 
face  so  pallid  and  expression  so  wild, 
that  she  cried,  involuntarily  : 

' '  What  has  happened  ?  Are  you 
frightened  ?  Are  you  ill  ?  " 

"  Oh,  La  Guerita,  help  me  !  "  she 
cried,  excitedly  ;  ' '  those  words  you 
uttered  assure  me  that  you  will  help 
me  to  save  him  !  " 

' '  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  demand- 
ed La  Guerita,  alarmed  at  Adela's 
incoherent  words.  ' '  Who  are  we  to 
save  ? '' 

'  *  Ah  !  I  had  forgotten  you  know 
nothing  of  it ;  and  yet  you  must  have 
heard  that  I  am  engaged  to  a  North- 
erner. Oh,  La  Guerita,  he  is  here 
sick — wounded — a  prisoner  ;  I  saw 
him  in  the  cars  not  ten  minutes 
since !  " 

She  wrung  her  hands  and  wept  like 
a  child,  totally  forgetting  the  dignity 
she,  in  all  circumstances,  strove  to 
maintain.  "Oh,  he  must  not  go 
on!"  she  continued,  wildly;  "he 
will  die  in  either  of  those  dreadful 
prisons  !  We  must  save  him.  La 
Guerita,  have  you  nothing  to  sug- 
gest?" 

She  seemed  suddenly  to  remember 


i66 


In  Bonds. 


the  necessity  of  caution,  and  spoke 
the  last  words  in  a  whisper.  La 
Guerita  could  answer  nothing,  but 
remained  for  some  moments  deeply 
perplexed  by  the  unexpected  appeal. 

1 '  Oh,  do  speak  ! "  sobbed  Miss 
Holmes  ;  "  Oh,  I  know  he  is  dying 
even  now !  " 

"I  can  suggest  but  one  thing," 
said  La  Guerita  at  last,  slowly  and  re- 
luctantly, ' '  and  that  is,  that  your 
father  and  Mr.  Gordon  have  influ- 
ence, and  might  use  it  to  save  the 
gentleman. " 

Miss  Holmes  stopped  her  by  an 
impatient  gesture.  ' '  You  know  not 
what  you  are  saying, "  she  exclaimed  ; 
"Neither  possess  the  influence  you 
suggest ;  and  if  they  did,  neither 
would  use  it  for  this  Northerner  ; 
but  we  must  do  something,  La  Gue- 
rita— you  and  I.  Oh;  I  have  helped 
you  in  your  hours  of  trouble,  will 
you  not  think  for  me  now  ?  Oh,  he 
must  be  rescued  ;  he  will  die  in  that 
dreadful  prison  !  " 

"I  would  do  anything  for  you, 
Miss  Adela,"  said  La  Guerita,  earn- 
estly, ' '  but,  indeed,  I  can  divine  no 
plan  for  saving  him.  Where  is  he, 
and  when  does  he  leave  town  !  " 

' '  I  suppose  he  is  at  the  depot 
now,"  returned  Miss  Holmes;  "I 
heard  that  they  would  be  detained 
there  until  the  train  from  Richmond 
came  in  to-night. " 

' '  When  is  that  due  ?  " 

' '  About  half-past  ten,  I  believe. " 

' '  Are  the  prisoners  closely  guard- 
ed?" 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  suppose  so. 
I  wish  you  would  go  and  see.  Try 
to  get  into  the  baggage  rooms  in 
some  way ;  the  wounded  will  be  sure 
to  be  there  ;  you  will  know  Thorn- 


ton immediately  by  his  major's  uni- 
form, and  by  his  lazy  brown  eyes  and 
dark  curling  hair ;  besides,  poor  fel- 
low, his  right  arm  is  in  a  sling. " 

La  Guerita  sank  into  a  chair,  turn- 
ing deadly  pale  and  trembling  vio- 
lently, as  she  said  :  ' '  Thornton  !  Is 
it  Thornton  Leslie  ?  " 

"That  is  his  name,"  cried  Miss 
Holmes,  in  surprise  ;  ' '  where  have 
you  heard  it  ?  " 

' '  I  knew  him  well, "  exclaimed 
La  Guerita,  excitedly  ;  "he  was  one 
of  my  earliest  and  best  friends ;  he 
stood  beside  my  husband  when  he 
died,  and  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  guardians  of  my  children. " 

' '  How  strange, "  ejaculated  Miss 
Holmes,  ' '  that  you  never  mentioned 
his  name  to  me  !  Did  you, "  she 
added,  suddenly,  ' '  remain  silent  all 
this  time  to  avenge  yourself  for  my 
first  distrust  of  you  ?  " 

' '  No  !  no  !  "  cried  La  Guerita, 
greatly  shocked  at  the  unjust  suspic- 
ion ;  "I  never  knew  that  he  held 
any  place  in  your  affections,  or  that 
he  was  even  known  to  you.  You 
asked  me  to  save  him  !  If  mortal 
can,  I  will.  I  would  shrink  from 
no  danger  to  aid  Thornton  Les- 
lie !  " 

"Go  !  go  and  see  him  quickly !  " 
exclaimed  Miss  Holmes  ;  "he  will 
know  that  friends  are  near  when  he 
sees  you. " 

' '  But  he  must  not  recognize  me  !  " 
returned  La  Guerita  ;  ' '  the  shock 
would  be  too  great  for  him  to  bear 
calmly,  and  the  least  excitement  on 
his  part  might  be  fatal  to  our  plans. " 

"That  is  true,"  acquiesced  Miss 
Holmes;  "in  my  terrible  anxiety 
for  his  rescue  I  forgot  even  the  most 
ordinary  precautions.  But  how  can 


In  Bonds. 


you  disguise  yourself  so  that  he  will 
not  know  you  ?  " 

' '  The  simplest  means  will  do  it, " 
returned  La  Guerita  ;  "the  possibil- 
ity of  my  being  here  at  all  will  not 
enter  his  mind ;  and  if  it  should,  the 
sight  of  this  dress  will  dispel  all  idea 
of  my  being  before  him. " 

As  she  spoke  she  left  the  room, 
but  returned,  after  a  short  time,  with 
a  basket  on  her  arm.  ' "  I  have  been 
to  mother's  cabin, "  she  said,  and  tak- 
ing from  the  basket  a  homespun 
dress  and  a  large  bandanna  hand- 
kerchief, arrayed  herself  in  the  one, 
and  wrapped  the  other  around  her 
brows,  completely  hiding  her  luxuri- 
ant hair,  and  suddenly  assuming, 
with  the  dress,  more  of  the  look  of  a 
negress  than  was  agreeable  to  her  own 
feelings,  or  than  Miss  Holmes  could 
have  considered  possible. 

"  He  will  not  know  me,"  said  La 
Guerita,  smiling  bitterly  ;  "  I  do  not 
think  that  even  my  own  child  would. 
By  the  way,  where  is  he  ?  " 

"I  sent  him  on  an  errand  to  Mr. 
Gordon's  a  short  time  ago. " 

1 '  Ah,  then  he  is  safe.  On  no  ac- 
count, Miss  Adela,  allow  him  to  go 
to  the  depot.  I  am  sure  he  would 
recognize  Thornton  immediately,  and 
that  would  never  do. " 

' '  But  what  are  you  about  to  at- 
tempt ?  "  asked  Miss  Holmes,  anx- 
iously. 

' '  To  sell  this  fruit  to  the  prison- 
ers," returned  La  Guerita,  filling  her 
basket  with  some  fruit  that  lay  on  the 
table ;  "I  have  no  other  plan  as 
yet." 

' '  Come  back  to  me  as  quickly  as 
possible, "  whispered  Miss  Holmes, 
as  La  Guerita  tied  on  a  large  Shaker 
bonnet  and  left  the  room.  ' '  I  shall 


be  dying  with  anxiety  until  I  see  you 
again. " 

La  Guerita  hastily  left  the  hotel, 
and  proceeded  toward  the  depot. 
She  had  proceeded  but  a  few  steps, 
when  she  met  Mr.  Gordon.  Her 
heart  sank  within  her,  but  he  passed 
her  with  a  cursory  glance,  that  assur- 
ed her  more  than  a  thousand  words 
could  have  done,  of  the  complete- 
ness of  her  simple  disguise. " 

She  noticed  as  she  approached  the 
depot  that  it  was  well  guarded,  ren- 
dering impossible  any  project  that 
might  be  made  for  any  escape  thence. 
She  was  stopped  at  the  entrance  by  a 
sentinel,  who  demanded  who  she  was, 
at  the  same  time  gazing  curiously 
upon  her  face. 

1 '  I  b'longto  Massa  Norton  Holmes, 
and  Miss  said  I  might  come  here  and 
sell  some  fruit,  'cos  gen'ally  the  pris- 
oners hab  got  lots  ob  greenbacks  to 
trow  away,"  she  replied,  readily. 

So  well  she  imitated  the  negro  dia- 
lect that,  supposing  her  to  be  some 
favorite  house-slave,  he  suffered  her  to 
pass,  saying  : 

' '  You'd  better  not  talk  too  much 
'bout  greenbacks.  It's  against  the 
law  to  traffic  with  them,  but  I  s'pose 
you  ain't  accountable. " 

Falling  into  a  leisurely  pace,  which 
but  illy  accorded  with  her  excited 
feelings,  La  Guerita  walked  into  the 
baggage-rooms,  where  most  of  the 
prisoners  had  been  lodged.  She 
looked  around  her  anxiously,  not 
only  for  Thornton,  for  she  remem- 
bered that  Victor  DeGrey,  or  even 
her  brother,  might  also  be  there. 
She  was  called  hither  and  thither, 
and  had  disposed  of  most  of  her 
fruit,  and  was  about  to  enter  another 
room,  when  she  saw-  an  officer  ex- 


i68 


In  Bonds. 


tended  upon  some  bales  of  cotton. 
A  Union  private  and  a  Confederate 
sentinel  were  near  him,  but  she  ap- 
proached with  steady  head,  and  with 
a  .thrill  of  delight  recognized  Thorn- 
ton Leslie. 

' '  Don't  go  thar, "  said  the  sentinel. 
' '  He  don't  want  yer  fruit,  and  won't 
want  anything  long,  I  reckon.  You 
havn't  got  any  business  here,  nohow. 
I  don't  b'leive  in  lettin'  niggers  in 
with  the  prisoners." 

Thornton  Leslie  wearily  turned  his 
head  and  looked  at  her  as  he  heard 
these  words.  A  puzzled  expression 
passed  over  his  face,  which  was  quick- 
ly followed  by  one  of  pain. 

' '  Why  don't  you  pass  on  ?  "  said 
the  sentinel,  roughly,  as  she  still  stood 
gazing  upon  the  wounded  man. 

She  saw  that  Thornton  was  too  ill 
to  take  more  than  a  passing  notice  of 
her,  and  instantly  resolved,  even  at 
some  risk,  again  to  claim  his  attention. 

' '  I  was  just  standin'  here, "  she  said, 
indifferently,  but  in  a  voice  totally 
unlike  her  natural  one,  ' '  because  I 
s'posed  the  sick  men  will  buy  fruit 
quicker'n  most  others,  and  not  care 
what  they  give  for't.  Leastways  that's 
what  Miss  Adela  said. " 

' '  And  who's  Miss  Adela  ?  Some 
Yankee  sympathizer,  I  s'pose  ?  " 

' '  No  she  hain't ;  she's  my  missis, " 
returned  La  Guerita,  with  difficulty 
retaining  her  false  tones  as  she  saw 
Thornton  Leslie  look  eagerly  upon 
her.  ' '  She's  Massa  Norton  Holmes' 
daughter.  Guess  you  have  heard  o' 
Massa  Norton  Holmes." 

' '  Lor'  yes ;  I  know  all  them 
Holmes'  like  a  book.  There's  no 
foolin'  'bout  them,  an'  they  all  hate 
the  Yankees  worse  nor  they  do  p'isen 
an)-  day. " 


The  private  who  had  been  stand- 
ing near  Thornton  then  approached 
La  Guerita,  and  said  the  major  would 
like  some  of  her  fruit. 

Thornton  raised  himself  and  greet- 
ed her  eagerly  as  she  drew  near,  feel- 
ing ready  to  weep  as  she  noticed  his 
prostrated  condition.  The  sentinel 
looked  at  them  a  moment,  and  then 
passed  on. 

' '  Who  are  you  ? "  whispered  Thorn- 
ton, eagerly. 

' '  Only  Miss  Adela's  waiting  maid, " 
she  returned,  in  the  same  tone  ;  ' '  she 
sent  me  here  to  tell  you  not  to  despair. 
We  will  liberate  you. " 

' '  God  bless  her  !  "  he  said,  fer- 
vently. 

"Handle  my  fruit  as  if  choosing 
some,  and  listen  to  me. '' 

He  obeyed,  and  two  citizens  ap- 
proached, speaking  of  the  prison- 
ers. 

"There  are  three  hundred  of 
them, "  said  one,  ' '  and  they're  to  be 
sent  on  the  eleven  o'clock  train, 
which  goes  through  without  making 
any  stoppages,  you  know. " 

' '  Yes  ;  but  it  seems  cruel  to  send 
men  wounded,  like  that  one,  for  in- 
stance, in  box  cars,  as  they  say  they 
will." 

"Oh,  it  is  safest,"  returned  the 
other,  carelessly,  "and  all  we  can 
provide  them  with  until  our  ports  are 
open.  Those  baggage  cars  are  not 
uncomfortable,  after  all,  and  even  the 
most  agile  cannot  escape  from  them. 
One  fellow  actually  jumped  from  the 
window  of  a  passenger  car  and  got 
free  not  a  month  ago.  He  deserved 
his  liberty,  but  evidently  the  guards 
were  at  fault.  I  have  seen  hundreds 
of  prisoners  go  through  on  the  tops 
of  cars,  and  couldn't  see  that  there 


In  Bonds. 


169 


was  any  chance  for  escape.  Do  you 
stop  in  town  to-night  ?  '' 

"  No  ;   I  shall  go  on  this  train  to 

the  E station.     It  will  stop  there 

for  wood.  I'm  lucky  in  having  my 
plantation  so  near  it.  Hello,  major, " 
suddenly  turning  to  Thornton,  ' '  how 
did  you  get  that  bullet  in  your  shoul- 
der?" 

"By  defending  my  country  from 
traitors  !  "  he  retorted,  proudly,  elicit- 
ing a  hearty  laugh  from  his  comrades 
and  causing  the  hasty  retreat  of  the 
inquirer  and  his  friends. 

During  the  few  moments  occupied 
by  this  apparently  unimportant  con- 
versation a  thousand  thoughts  had 
chased  each  other  through  the  mind 
of  La  Cuerita,  and  her  plan  of  action 
was  matured  before  the  laugh  occa- 
sioned by  Thornton's  remark  had 
subsided. 

She  glanced  hastily  around.  The 
sentinel  was  near,  and  also  several 
citizens.  ' '  I  'will  come  back  pres- 
ently/' she  whispered,  and  hastened 
to  a  soldier  who  had  for  some  mo- 
ments been  calling  her. 

None  but  prisoners  were  near  when 
she  returned. 

' '  Listen  to  me, "  she  whispered, 
deliberately  filling  Thornton's  cap 
with  fruit,  which  she  polished  with 
her  coarse  apron.  "To-night  the 
train  will  stop  at  a  station  for  wood  ; 
it  lies  about  ten  miles  from  here. 
Wrench  up  the  floor  of  the  car  and 
lie  on  the  track  till  the  cars  pass  over 
you  and  all  is  quiet.  Creep  then  in- 
to the  copse  on  the  left  and  I  will 
come  to  you. " 

He  looked  at  her  in  astonishment, 
but  she  continued  calmly  to  fill  his 
cap  with  fruit,  asked  for  her  payment, 
and  counted  out  the  change,  saying  : 


"You'll  find  it  all  right,  sir;  you 
needn't  be  afraid, '"  adding,  in  a  whis- 
per, ' '  have  you  a  large  knife  ?  " 

"My  dagger." 

She  smiled,  said  ' '  Good-day, " 
and  passed  on  to  another  officer.  To 
him  she  sold  all  her  fruit,  and  then 
hastened  from  the  building.  She  was 
about  to  enter  the  hotel  when,  to  her 
surprise,  she  met  Mr.  Russell,  whom 
she  had  supposed  to  be  in  Virginia. 
He  looked  at  her  closely  as  she  pas- 
sed, then  turned  and  followed  her  a 
few  steps,  but  presently,  to  her  infi- 
nite relief,  paused,  and  with  a  short 
laugh,  as  if  at  the  utter  absurdity  of 
his  suspicions,  turned  again  toward 
the  depot.  Waiting  until  he  had  dis- 
appeared from  view,  La  Guerita  hur- 
ried into  the  hotel,  and  to  Miss  Adela's 
room. 

"What  news  ? "  she  cried,  eagerly. 
' '  Have  you  seen  him  ?  " 

"Yes,"  she  answered,  and  in  a 
few  words  related  her  meeting  with 
Thornton  Leslie,  and  the  plan  she 
had  formed  for  his  release.  "You 
know  the  box  cars  are  but  very  slightly 
made, "  she  explained,  in  conclusion. 
"The  flooring,  I  am  sure,  may  be 
easily  wrested  up  by  a  strong  blade 
and  a  willing  hand. " 

"Oh,  the  escape  from  the  guards 
is  not  so  difficult, "  said  Miss  Holmes. 
1 '  I  have  seen  Union  soldiers  actually 
waiting  at  the  stations  at  which  they 
had  been  accidentally  left  for  chances 
to  be  taken  on  to  prison,  but  how  we 
are  to  conduct  him  to  a  place  of 
safety  is  my  great  trouble.  Now  that 
you  have  suggested  a  plan  of  escape 
from  the  train,  I  have  no  doubt  he 
will  try  to  follow  it  out. " 

' '  Yes, "  said  La  Guerita,  ' '  we  may 
trust  to  his  ready  wit  to  help  him  out 


i  yo 


In  Bonds. 


of  any  danger  connected  with  that 
which  we  cannot  foresee.  My  only 
care  now  is  to  be  near  the  station  in 
time  to  conduct  him  to  a  place  of 
safety  before  his  flight  is  discovered, 
for  however  careless  they  may  be  as 
to  common  soldiers,  the  authorities 
would  not  relish  the  idea  of  an  officer 
running  through  the  country  at  will. " 

"That  is  quite  true.  My  poor 
Thornton  has  everything  against  him. 
But  with  his  wounded  arm  he  can 
never  wrench  up  the  floor. " 

"  He  will  find  others  to  help  him, 
and  as  there  will  be  several  in  the  car 
we  may  safely  reckon  that  all  will  not 
trust  themselves  to  these  unfriendly 
woods,  therefore  several  hours  may 
elapse  before  the  flight  of  any  is  dis- 
covered. I  ask  but  one;  that  will 
take  us  some  distance  toward  Asenith 
Bray's. " 

"Asenith  Bray's?" 

' '  Yes  ;  we  can  find  no  safer  place 
for  him.  There  is  not  one  retired 
nook  at  Holmsford.  If  we  can  cover 
up  our  tracks,  no  one  would  suspect 
Asenith  of  harboring  any  one.  She 
must  be  prepared  for  our  coming." 

"  It  can  never  be  done/'  said  Miss 
Holmes,  despairingly.  "They  ex- 
pect me  home  to-day ;  I  must  go. 
How  am  I,  then,  in  the  first  place  to 
account  for  your  absence  ?  My  father 
is  so  jealously  careful  of  you.  But, 
even  if  I  could  arrange  that  satisfac- 
torily, how  are  you  to  conduct  Thorn- 
ton over  roads  you  have  yourself 
never  trod  ? " 

"  The  first  difficulty  is  the  great- 
est," said  La  Guerita,  after  a  mo- 
ment's thought,  ' f  and  I  own  it  did 
not  at  first  occur  to  me,  although  it 
now  appears  to  me  insurmountable. 
As  to  the  rest,  I  know  the  general  di- 


rection of  the  roads  leading  to  and 
from  the  station.  But  has  not  Harold 
yet  returned  ?  Can  it  be  possible 
that  he  has  wandered  to  the  depot  ? 
Oh,  I  hope  not ;  if  he  is  seen  by  Will. 
Russell  our  plans  may  be  utterly 
ruined." 

1 '  What  ?  Is  Will.  Russell  in  town  ?" 

' '  Yes,  and  even  Thornton  did  not 
eye  me  so  closely ;  yet  I  think  I  es- 
caped unrecognized." 

"Thank  God  for  that.  Oh,  La 
Guerita,  we  must  not  fail.  We  are 
running  a  frightful  risk.  I  am  even 
placing  my  father's  life  in  danger. 
Oh,  God,  the  thought  is  agony  !  " 

"We  will  not  think  of  danger," 
said  La  Guerita.  "God  will  not 
suffer  so  just  an  undertaking  to  fail. 
But  now  we  cannot  draw  back.  I 
would  not  at  any  cost. " 

' '  But  the  danger  is  frightful, "  said 
Miss  Holmes,  turning  pale  and  shud- 
dering, as  she  pictured  the  hundred 
chances  of  failure  andtdetection  they 
must  have.  ' '  Much  as  I  long  to 
rescue  Thornton,  I  cannot  bear  to 
risk  my  father's  honor,  and  to  place 
you  in  such  terrible  jeopardy.  Oh, 
Rita,  be  careful  !  be  careful  !  My 
father  would  never  forgive  you  if  you 
were  discovered.  He  would  part  us 
forever. " 

' '  I  know  it, "  returned  La  Guerita. 
"But  let  us  think  of  how  we  shall 
account  for  our  absence  from  Holms- 
ford  to-night.  Can  you  trust  Henry  ?" 

"Not  an  iota.  Fate  seems  truly 
perverse  in  awarding  him  as  our 
driver. " 

' '  That  is  unfortunate ;  but  we  have 
Harry.  There  he  is  now,  at  the 
door. " 

"  Have  you  considered,"  said  Miss 
Holmes,  "that  it  is  more  than  ten 


In  Bonds. 


171 


miles  from  Holmsford  to  the  station, 
how  can  you  ever  walk  such  a  dis- 
tance?— or,  at  any  rate,  in  time  to 
rescue  Thornton. " 

' '  There  must  be  no  delay, "  re- 
plied La  Guerita  ;  ' l  Let  us  call  in 
Harold,  and  you  can  send  him  to 
order  the  carriage.  It  must  be  near- 
ly five  o'clock  now. " 

"It  is  quite  that.  Come  in,  Har- 
ry-" 

He  entered,  and  delivered  a  note 
to  Miss  Holmes,  and  then  turned  to 
his  mother,  in  great  glee,  exclaim- 
ing: 

"Oh,  ma,  they're  having  such  a 
time  down  at  the  depot ;  there  are 
thousands  of  Yankee  prisoners  there. 
I  went  down  myself  and  saw  them. " 

"Oh,  Harold,  Harold,  what  have 
you  done  ?''  she  cried,  in  a  tone  of 
such  grief  that  the  child  shrank  back 
as  though  he  had  been  struck. 

' '  I  didn't  mean  any  harm, "  he 
faltered. 

' '  I  know  you  did  not, "  she  re- 
turned in  a  gentler  tone.  ' '  Who  did 
you  see  at  the  depot?  Any  of  the 
prisoners  ?" 

"No,"  he  answered,  half  crying, 
' '  I  was  going  into  the  big  room, 
when  Captain  Russell  came  along 
and  wouldn't  let  me." 

"Captain  Russell!'' ejaculated  Miss 
Holmes,  in  affright,  ' '  and  what  did 
he  say  to  you  ?'\ 

' '  He  only  put  his  hand  under  my 
chin,  and  made  me  raise  my  face  so's 
he  could  look  at  it,  and  then  he  ask- 
me  who  I  came  to  town  with  ;  and  I 
told  him  Miss  Adela  and  ma,  and  he 
told  me  to  run  home,  and  I  did  just 
as  quick  as  I  could." 

La  Guerita,  for  the  first  time  in 
her  life,  was  thoroughly  angered  at 


her  child,  and  for  a  few  moments  was 
almost  filled  with  despair.  She  went 
with  Miss  Holmes  into  the  bedroom, 
leaving  Harold  in  tears. 

c '  This  has  totally  discomposed  my 
plans, "  she  exclaimed  ;  ' '  had  we 
better  not  forego  them,  and  apply  at 
once  to  Will.  Russell  for  aid,  he 
knows  Thornton  well,  and  can  have 
no  personal  enmity  against  him. 

' '  You  forget ;  they  are  rivals, " 
answered  Miss  Holmes,  blushing ; 
' '  Captain  Russell  has  many  reasons 
for  preferring  to  see  Thornton  in 
prison  than  free,  and,  at  any  rate,  he 
is  not  the  man  to  recognize  a  person- 
al friend  in  a  political  enemy. " 

' '  You  cannot,  then,  trust  to  his 
generosity  ?" 

' '  No,  no  ;  and  additional  caution 
is  necessary  now,  for  undoubtedly  he 
knows  that  Thornton  is  here,  and  his 
seeing  you  in  that  disguise  has  arous- 
ed his  suspicions. " 

' '  Perhaps  they  will  say  that  I  am 
planning  my  own  escape  instead  ol 
Thornton's,"  said  La  Guerita,  cheer- 
ingly ;  "at  any  rate  it  is  now  too 
late  for  us  to  draw  back.  When  shall 
you  be  ready  to  leave  town  ?  " 

' '  Immediately  ;  if  you  think  it 
best.  Here,  Harry,  see  if  you  can 
be  a  man  and  order  the  carriage  ;  and 
then  go  into  the  office  and  pay  my 
bill  for  me. " 

She  gave  him  her  purse,  and  he 
left  the  room  proud,  and  once  more 
happy. 

"Do 'you  remember,"  said  La 
Guerita,  ' '  that  the  E road  cross- 
es the  Holmsford,  about  seven  miles 
from  here  ?  Now,  I  am  well  assured 
that  a  walk  of  three  miles  on  that 
road,  and  of  five  miles  more  through 
the  woods,  directly  east,  will  bring 


172 


In  Bonds. 


me  to  the  station.  Eight  miles 
south-west  from  that  point  is  Asenith 
Bray's.  By  some  good  fortune,  I 
remember  hearing  that  some  time 
ago. " 

' '  Sixteen  miles  to  walk, "  said  Miss 
Holmes,  aghast. 

' '  I  am  not  sure  that  I  ever  walked 
so  far  before  in  my  life  ;  but  I  can 
do  so  now,  or  as  much  further  as 
need  be.  There  is  the  carriage  now. 
Henry  is  in  a  hurry  to  leave  town  I 
suppose  ;  no  doubt  he  is  thinking  of 
that  long,  stony  hill  which  will  pre- 
vent one  reaching  the  junction  until 
nearly  eight  o'clock  at  least. " 

Hastily  arranging  themselves,  they 
left  the  room. 

"I  had  forgotten  we  must  have 
some  brandy,"  whispered  La  Gue- 
rita. 

"I  have  some,"  answered  Miss 
Holmes  ;  "  I  brought  it  from  home 
for  your  mother.  But  we  will  have 
some  sandwiches. " 
*  She  dispatched  Harold  for  them, 
and  the  landlord  conducted  her  to 
the  carriage,  leaving  La  Guerita  to 
follow  as  she  best  could. 

"  Drive  quickly,  Henry,"  said 
Miss  Holmes,  when  Harold  had 
joined  them  with  a  small  basket  well 
filled. 

He  obeyed,  and  for  some  time  they 
proceeded  in  silence  ;  and  when  they 
were  fully  free  from  the  town,  they  in 
whispers  matured  their  plans. 

"Yes, "said  Miss  Holmes,  at  last, 
"Harold  must  help  us;  I  cannot 
trust  Henry.  Harry,  listen  to  me, 
I  have  a  reason  why  your  mother 
shall  leave  the  carriage  without  being 
seen  by  Henry.  Will  you  help  her 
to  do  it  ?  " 

"Why,    of  course,  Miss   Adela," 


he  answered  in  astonishment,  "I'll 
do  anything  you  want  me  to. " 

' '  That  is  right.  Now,  presently, 
we  shall  get  to  the  top  of  this  hill, 
and  I  shall  send  Henry  to  a  spring  in 
one  of  the  fields  to  get  me  some 
water ;  you  must  get  out  and  hold 
the  horses.  Your  mother  will  leave 
the  carriage,  and  when  Henry  brings 
the  water,  you  must  take  it  from 
him." 

'  'I'll  do  it, "  he  said,  ' '  but  I'm  sure 
ma  will  get  lost,  it's  pretty  near  dark 
already. " 

' '  Never  mind  that.  I  have,  besides , 
something  else  for  you  to  do.  I  am 
not  going  to  Holmsford  to-night,  but 
to  Asenith  Bray's  ;  I  shall  send  you 
home  with  a  note  to  mamma,  and  if 
they  ask  you  about  us,  tell  them  that 
you  left  us  at  Asenith's. " 

' f  What,  if  ma  a'int  there  ;  that  will 
be  a  lie,"  said  Harold  bluntly. 

Miss  Holmes  colored.  "A  lie  is 
nothing  where  a  life  is  concerned,  " 
she  said,  more  to  herself  than  to  the 
child  ;  "I  will  explain  to  him  when 
you  are  gone,"  she  added  to  La 
Guerita.  "Now,  then,  for  the  dis- 
guise as  before. " 

La  Guerita  hastily  assumed  it,  and 
when  they  reached  the  top  of  the  hill, 
Miss  Holmes  said  to  Harold  : 

"Now,  then,  let  me  see  how  well 
you  can  perform  your  first  task  ;  tell 
Henry  to  go  for  the  water. " 

He  did  so,  and  took  his  place  at 
the  horses'  heads,  while  the  driver  de- 
parted on  his  errand.  As  soon  as 
his  face  was  turned  steadfastly  toward 
the  spring,  La  Guerita  arose,  and 
taking  the  basket  of  food  and  the 
brandy,  and  the  "pass"  which,  as  an 
additional  safeguard,  Miss  Holmes 
had  prepared  for  her,  hastily  left  the 


In  Bonds. 


carriage.  Uttering  a  word  of  fare- 
well, she  looked  around  her  cau- 
tiously for  a  moment,  and  then  en- 
tering the  thick  woods  that  bordered 
the  road,  crouched  down,  and  await- 
ed impatiently  a  chance  for  action. 

From  her  hiding-place,  she  pres- 
ently saw  Henry  return  from  the 
spring,  and  Harold  run  to  him,  ex- 
claiming that  he  could  not  hold  the 
horses,  and  snatching  the  water  from 
his  hands,  conveying  it  himself  to 
Miss  Holmes. 

To  her  great  relief  Henry  mounted 
the  box  without  looking  into  the  car- 
riage, and  drove  slowly  away. 

CHAPTER   XXXI. 

"  I  dare  do  all  that  may  become  a  man." 
Shakespeare. 

LA  GUERITA  then  felt  herself  fully 
launched  upon  her  perilous  adven- 
ture ;  and  yet,  strangely  enough,  she 
felt  far  more  anxiety  for  Miss  Holmes 
than  for  herself.  Would  it  be  possi- 
ble for  one  so  well  known  to  drive  so 
many  miles  without  encountering 
one  that  knew  her  ?  Might  not  her 
father  even,  rendered  anxious  by  the 
lateness  of  the  hour,  ride  forth  to 
meet  her,  and  ask  the  cause  of  her 
own  absence?  In  such  a  case,  what 
answer  would  she  give  ?  These  ques- 
tions long  tormented  her,  even  after 
she  had  arisen  and  begun  to  walk 
boldly  on  the  open  roadway. 

' '  It  must  be  nearly  eight  o'clock !  " 
she  thought,  glancing  at  the  sun, 
which  was  fast  setting  ;  "it  will  soon 
be  dark  among  these  gloomy  pines  ; 
but,  after  all,  that  will  be  all  the  bet- 
ter for  me. " 

Within  the  first  three  miles  she  met 
many  persons,  but,  as  it  was  almost 


dark,  she  passed  almost  unnoticed. 
1 '  Now  for  the  labyrinth  !  "  she  mut- 
tered, as  she  made  a  sudden  detour 
into  the  woods.  "This  path  is 
scarcely  distinguishable.  I  might 
have  found  my  difficulties  greatly 
lessened  if  Miss  Adela  had  taken 
Henry  into  our  confidence.  Those 
old  negroes  know  every  turn.  Let 
me  see — where  am  I  ?  " 

She  paused  for  some  time  at  the 
junction  of  two  roads,  which  were, 
in  fact,  little  more  than  mere  foot- 
paths. ' '  This, "  she  thought,  doubt- 
fully, at  last  proceeding  in  one, 
"must  be  right,  I  know  I  must  go 
east.  But,  oh,  if  I  could  but  see  a 
few  paces  before  me,  how  thankful  I 
should  be  ! " 

She  went  on,  however,  quite  blind- 
ly for  more  than  a  half  hour  longer. 
The  faint  starlight  failed  to  pierce  the 
gloom  of  the  forest  ;  and  at  length, 
utterly  wearied,  she  sat  down  at  the 
roadside  to  rest. 

She  had  sat  there  but  a  short  time, 
when  a  man  on  horseback  went  by. 
She  drew  back  from  the  road,  hoping 
he  would  pass  without  speaking  ;  but 
he  drew  rein,  evidently  surprised  to 
see  a  woman  in  the  woods  alone  at 
that  late  hour. 

' '  Who  are  you  ?  "  he  asked,  sus- 
piciously, "and  where  are  you  go- 
ing ?  " 

Evading  his  first  question,  she  an- 
swered, carelessly  :  "  I  am  going  to 


' '  Then  you  have  a  good  walk  be- 
fore you."  He  evidently  took  her 
for  a  white  wroman.  ' '  There  are 
lots  of  runaway  negroes  and  con- 
scripts in  these  woods ;  I  wonder 
you  are  not  afraid  of  them. " 

"  I  am  too  poor  for  them  to  trou- 


In  Bonds. 


ble  me,  sir, "  she  returned  ;  ' '  but  I 
am  not  quite  sure  I  am  on  the  road 
to  E ." 

' '  Oh,  yes  ;  you're  all  right. " 

Her  heart  sank.  Then  she  had 
diverged  far  from  the  road  leading  to 
the  wood-station ;  but  dissembling 
her  emotion,  said  :  "  I  was  afraid  it 
might  be  the  other  road — the  one 
that  crosses  this  more  than  two  miles 
back." 

"Oh,  no  ;  that  would  take  you  to 

R ,"  mentioning  a  village  which 

she  knew  to  be  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  wood-station. 

The  man  rode  on,  with  a  cheery 
"Good-night"  to  her,  and  the  ad- 
vice to  hurry  on,  as  there  were  con- 
scripts and  conscript-hunters  within 
a  mile,  and  they  might  annoy  her 
were  they  to  meet  her. 

After  he  was  gone  she  stood  for  a 
few  moments  quite  motionless.  All 
those  weary  miles,  then,  must  be  re- 
traced. With  difficulty  she  restrained 
her  tears ;  but,  with  a  silent  prayer 
for  help,  she  walked  back  to  the 
junction,  and,  almost  hopelessly,  took 
the  other  road.  She  thought  the  five 
miles  she  had  decided  she  must  pro- 
ceed interminable,  and  several  times 
felt  inclined  to  turn  into  one  of  the 
numerous  small  paths  that  intersected 
the  greater  on  every  hand.  She  knew 
that  to  reach  the  station  it  was  neces- 
sary for  her  to  do  so. 

Her  perplexity  increased  with  every 
passing  moment,  and  at  last  she  men- 
tally exclaimed  :  "It  must  be  nearly 
eleven  o'clock  ;  and  here  is  another 
road.  Oh,  Heaven  direct  me,  or  all 
may  be  lost !  " 

She  stood  for  some  minutes  at  the 
junction,  afraid  to  move ;  when,  to 
her  great  terror,  she  heard  the  sound 


of  wheels.  She  sprang  into  the 
woods,  and  in  a  few  moments  a  bug- 
gy, driven  by  a  negro,  rolled  rapidly 
by  and  turned  upon  the  very  road 
she  had  been  pondering  over. 

' '  That  is  the  buggy  for  the  gentle- 
man who  was  to  leave  the  train  at  the 
wood-station, "  she  thought,  joyfully  ; 
"  I  am,  indeed,  all  right  now." 

She  hastened  hopefully  upon  her 
new  path,  and  almost  at  the  same 
moment  the  shrill  'scream  of  the  en- 
gine awoke  the  forest  echoes,  and  she 
knew  that  the  train  was  approaching 
the  wood-station,  and  thought  that 
at  that  very  instant  Thornton  Les- 
lie might  be  striving  for  freedom. 
Which  would  he  gain,  Freedom  or 
death  ? " 

The  thought  quite  chilled  and  sick- 
ened her  for  a  moment ;  then  again 
the  whistle  sounded,  and,  quite  re- 
gardless of  her  fatigue,  she  ran  ea- 
gerly in  the  direction  of  the  station. 

At  last  she  saw  the  red  lights  of 
the  engine  before  her.  She  paused, 
drawing  into  the  covert  of  the  wood, 
as  the  buggy,  containing  her  uncon- 
scious benefactor,  drove  by  on  its 
homeward  way.  The  whistle  again 
sounded — the  heavy  train  moved  on 
— the  flickering  lights  at  the  wood- 
pile vanished  one  by  one,  and  all  was 
dark  and  still  as  death. 

She  stood  for  a  moment  quite  awed 
by  the  thought  of  the  joy  or  sorrow 
she  would  shortly  know.  ' '  I  shall 
never  reach  Asenith  Bray's  if  I  must 
go  there  alone,"  she  thought,  and 
then  moved  a  step  forward  and  scan- 
ned the  track  with  eager  gaze. 

She  fancied  she  saw  two  or  three 
dark  objects  move  slowly  across  it, 
and,  with  a  beating  heart,  she  de- 
scended the  hill,  crossed  a  rustic 


In  Bonds. 


175 


bridge  which  spanned  a  ravine  at  its 
foot,  and  entered  the  copse  that  lay 
between  it  and  the  railway  track. 

No  sound  was  to  be  heard  but  the 
croaking  of  the  frogs  in  the  stream 
and  the  howl  of  a  distant  dog.  By 
the  faint  lights  but  few  objects  could 
be  distinguished,  and  putting  aside 
the  boughs  of  the  shrub  pines  and 
wild-rose  bushes,  she  stepped  into 
the  copse,  holding  herself  ready  to  be 
accosted  in  any  way ;  yet  she  could 
not  repress  a  shiver  of  terror  when 
her  dress  was  firmly,  yet  gently, 
seized,  and  a  low  voice  whispered : 
"Adela!" 

At  that  word  she  looked  down, 
and  saw  a  stranger  lying  at  her  feet ; 
but  he  was  clothed  in  the  Union 
blue,  and  kneeling  beside  him,  she 
whispered  :  "  How  many  of  you  are 
here  ? " 

' '  God  bless  you,  five — the  major 
and  four  privates.  Tell  me  the  near- 
est point  we  can  hope  to  gain  the 
Union  lines." 

' '  At  Kenston — about  eighty  miles 
north-east.  I  can  give  you  only  the 
general  direction.  Where  is  the 
major  ? " 

' '  God  save  you  for  a  brave  girl  !  " 
replied  the  man  ;  * '  my  comrades 
and  I  will  never  forget  you  for  your 
work  to-night.  Tell  me  who  you 
are,  and  to  whom  you  belong/' 

' '  Detain  me  no  longer, "  she  whis- 
pered, * '  but  tell  me  where  the  major 
is. " 

"Close  under  the  covert  of  the 
wood  yonder,  unless  he  has  gained 
courage  to  rise  and  walk  away ;  he 
was  not  able  to  creep,  because  of  his 
broken  arm.  Let  me  shake  hands 
with  you. '' 

She  gave  him  her  hand,  and  an- 


swering ' '  Good-by  "  to  his  fervent 
blessing,  hastened  away,  returning, 
on  a  second  thought,  to  say  :  ' '  Have 
you  money  or  food  ? " 

"The  first,  yes  ;  the  last  we  need 
most. " 

"Have  you  a  brandy-flask ? " 

"Yes." 

He  produced  it,  and  by  the  un- 
certain light  she  filled  it,  shared  with 
him  her  slender  stock  of  food,  and 
said  :  ' '  That  must  serve  you  until 
you  reach  the  house  of  a  Quakeress, 
ten  miles  south.  Tell  her  nothing 
but  that  you  are  hungry,  and  you 
will  be  fed.  You  will  know  the 
house  by  its  large,  brown,  wooden 
blinds  ;  there  are  none  beside  them 
hereabout. " 

She  left  the  copse  before  he  could 
utter  a  word  of  thanks,  and  after  a 
careful  survey  of  the  ground  stepped 
lightly  across  the  open  space,  and  at 
the  spot  designated  by  the  soldier 
found  Thornton  Leslie. 

1 '  I  saw  you  go  into  the  copse, "  he 
whispered,  "but  was  too  faint  to 
move  or  speak.  For  God's  sake,  let 
us  leave  this  place ;  there  is  a  man 
in  the  hut  yonder  ;  he  might  discover 
us  at  any  moment. " 

Without  uttering  a  word,  she  led 
the  way  across  the  bridge.  At  the 
top  of  the  hill  they  paused  and  lis- 
tened. In  the  distance — at  M , 

they  conjectured — the  whistle  of  the 
cars  sounded  shrilly,  and,  as  if  it  her- 
alded pursuit,  they  hurried  desperate- 
ly on. 

' '  How  far  have  we  to  go  ?  "  whis- 
pered Leslie,  at  last. 

"Eight  miles." 

"Good  God,  I  am  fainting  al- 
ready !  " 

She  stopped  and  gave  him  some 


i76 


In   Bonds. 


brandy.  It  revived  him,  and  after 
resting  a  moment  he  continued  his 
walk,  leaning  heavily  upon  a  stick 
which  La  Guerita  placed  in  his 
hands. 

' '  Why  do  you  walk  behind  me  ?  " 
he  asked. 

' '  My  dress  sweeps  over  your  foot- 
prints and  obliterates  them,"  she  re- 
plied. 

' '  None  but  a  negro  used  to  flights 
would  have  thought  of  that,"  he 
mused. 

Oh,  how  wearily  the  next  hour 
passed.  On  they  pressed  through  the 
gloomy  woods,  often  startled  by  some 
distant  sound,  or  obliged  to  yield  for 
a  moment  to  the  fatigue  that  threat- 
ened to  overcome  both. 

They  at  last  sat  down,  at  a  few  rods 
from  the  roadside,  and  partook  of  the 
food  La  Guerita  had  reserved.  "'Tis 
the  first  food  I  have  eaten  with  an  ap- 
petite since  I  was  made  prisoner," 
whispered  Thornton. 

' '  Was  your  escape  easily  manag- 
ed ? "  she  queried. 

' '  Yes  ;  though  there  was  a  double 
guard  placed  at  our  car ;  and  after 
the  boards  were  loosened  they  came 
in,  and  actually  trod  upon  them. 
Heaven  knows  what  would  have  be- 
come of  us  if  one  had  slipped.  One 
of  them  stood  at  the  door  all  the  time 
we  stopped  at  the  station  ;  but  part  of 
our  brave  fellows  blocked  his  view 
while  the  four  others  and  myself 
raised  the  boards  and  dropped  upon 
the  track  below.  There  was  a  terri- 
ble glare  from  the  engine  shining 
upon  it ;  but,  thank  God,  in  a  mo- 
ment the  train  thundered  over  us — 
the  station-master  slowly  passed  by, 
putting  out,  one  by  one,  the  dull 
lights,  and  at  last  went  into  the  cab- 


in, leaving  us  in  the  blessed  dark- 
ness. " 

"Lie  down/' muttered  La  Gue- 
rita, warningly,  throwing  herself  back. 
Thornton  instantly  obeyed,  and  a  few 
minutes  later  four  men  on  horseback 
passed.  One  was  a  conscript,  and 
the  others  were  so  much  engaged  in 
taunting  him  that  they  fortunately 
looked  only  at  him. 

' '  I  guess  the  next  time  you  run,  it 
will  be  from  the  Yankees, "  remarked 
one,  jeeringly. 

"I'll  run  to  them,"  retorted  the 
conscript,  sullenly. 

' '  You  will,  eh  ?  "  replied  the  cap- 
tain, with  an  oath.  ' '  Well,  at  any 
rate  we  caught  you  nicely  to-night. 
We  should  have  had  your  brother, 
too,  but  that  my  horse  stumbled  on 
that  cursed  tree  that  lay  across  the 
road  by  Deacon  Wright's/' 

They  passed  on,  and  were  soon 
out  of  sight.  La  Guerita  arose  and 
beckoned  to  Thornton  to  follow. 
They  made  but  slow  progress,  for 
Thornton  faltered  at  every  step,  until 
they  came  to  a  path  leading  across 
some  fields  that  surrounded  a  large 
white  house. 

1 '  I  did  not  know  before  that  Dea- 
con Wright  lived  there, "  she  thought, 
' '  but  I  know  his  house  is  but  a  few 
miles  from  Asenith's.  Yes,  we  are 
right ;  there  is  the  fallen  tree. " 

They  entered  the  fields,  then,  creep- 
ing along  under  such  covert  as  pre- 
sented itself,  yet  often  obliged  to  take 
to  the  open  field,  and  run  the  risk  of 
encountering  their  worst  enemies — 
the  seemingly  ubiquitous  conscript- 
hunters.  When  they  again  entered 
the  woods  Thornton  sank  down, 
faintly  declaring  himself  unable  to  go 
farther. 


In  Bonds. 


177 


La  Guerita  gently  forced  him  to 
take  some  brandy,  but  it  seemed  to 
have  no  effect. 

"It  is  no  use,"  he  muttered,  "I 
can  go  no  farther.  Oh,  the  agony  of 
this  wounded  arm  is  intolerable. " 

La  Guerita  silently  took  his  dagger 
from  his  belt  and  slit  up  the  loose 
sleeve  of  his  coat,  and  loosened  the 
bandages  slightly,  not  daring  to  re- 
move them,  as  he  begged  her  to  do, 
lest  the  blood  of  an  artery  should 
burst  forth. 

1 '  Come  now, "  she  said,  cheerfully, 
' '  it  is  only  a  mile  farther,  and  I  know 
the  road  well.  I  am  sure  all  danger 
is  past." 

"  It  is  no  use, ''  he  muttered,  sink- 
ing back  after  a  vain  attempt  to  rise. 

' c  Oh,  Thornton  !  "  she  exclaimed, 
bursting  into  tears,  and  for  the  first 
time  speaking  in  her  natural  voice, 
' '  rouse  yourself  !  for  God's  sake, 
rouse  yourself!  The  morning  will 
soon  break,  and  unless  we  reach 
Asenith's  before  that,  all  will  be 
lost. " 

"Who  are  you?"  he  cried,  sud- 
denly, rising  to  his  feet  as  if  electri- 
fied; "are  you  yourself  Adela,  or 
whose  voice  is  that  I  hear  ? " 

' '  Her  waiting  maid's, "  she  replied, 
gaining,  by  a  moment's  thought,  time 
to  answer  him  calmly,  ' '  and  she  will 
kill  me  by  the  sight  of  her  grief  if  I 
do  not  take  you  to  her  to-night. " 
' '  Xo,  it  cannot  be  possible.  You 

cannot  be .     And  yet .     But 

lead  on." 

"To  Adela !"  whispered  La  Gue- 
rfta. 

The  name  seemed  to  give  him  fresh 

strength.   He  pressed  onward,  though 

slowly,  often  scarcely  able  to  repress  a 

moan  of  pain.     La  Guerita  spoke  no 

23 


more  until  they  had  passed  through 
the  woods  and  the  wild,  uncultivated 
garden,  and  they  stood  before  the  lit- 
tle porch  of  Asenith  Bray's  house. 
She  took  Thornton  Leslie's  hand  ;  it 
was  cold  as  ice,  and  he  trembled  like 
an  aspen.  His  former  danger,  and 
his  escape  from  it,  she  knew  were  for 
a  moment  forgotten. 

' '  Where  is  she  ?  "  he  murmured. 
' '  My  love,  my  Adela  !  " 

That  moment  he  was  answered. 
The  door  opened  and  he  fell  forward 
into  her  outstretched  arms. 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

"  To  his  eye 

There  was  but  one  beloved  face  on  earth, 
And  that  was  shining  on  him.11 

Bvro*. 

THERE  was  no  time  for  words  of 
welcome,  or  tears  of  joy.  Thornton 
Leslie  had  fainted,  and  at  the  sight 
of  the  strong  man  so  utterly  pros- 
trated, the  three  women  instantly  be- 
came calm,  and  even  La  Guerita  was 
unconscious  of  fatigue  as  she  assist- 
ed to  raise  and  carry  him  into  an  in- 
ner chamber.  Scarcely  had  they  laid 
him  upon  the  bed,  when  to  their  utter 
consternation  a  heavy  knock  sounded 
upon  the  door. 

"Oh,  my  God,  you  have  been 
followed,"  ejaculated  Miss  Holmes, 
throwing  herself  despairingly  on  her 
knees  beside  her  lover.  ' '  Oh,  Thorn- 
ton, Thornton,  we  are  lost !  " 

La  Guerita:  would  not  move  for 
very  terror,  but  leaving  the  room  and 
closing  the  door,  Asenith  demanded 
firmly  : 

"Who  is  there?" 

"It's  only  me,"  replied  a  voice 
which,  to  the  infinite  relief  of  all, 
they  recognized  to  be  that  of  the 


i78 


In  Bonds. 


coachman,  Henry.  "I'se  come  for 
Miss  Addie. " 

"And  why?"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
hastening  to  the  door,  "what  has 
happened  ? " 

"Oh,  Miss  Addie,  you'se  to  go 
right  off.  Massa  Rufe  is  wid  me  to 
see  you  safe !  Dey's  jest  havin'  de 
most  orfulest  times — Miss  Myra's 
done  gone  inter  de  hystricks,  and 
Massa  Norton's  nigh  'bout  crazy  ; 
let  'lone  Miss  Tildy,  who  says  she 
jest  know'd  'twould  happen  so  !" 

' '  That  what  would  happen  ? "  cried 
Miss  Holmes,  breathlessly,  her  heart 
palpitating  with  a  thousand  fears. 

"Why  that  Massa  Claude  would 
be  killed  !  He  was  just  shot  all  to 
pieces  I" 

"  Claude  shot !" 

"Yes,"  cried  Rufus,  who  had  just 
entered,  ' '  shot  by  those  cussed  Yan- 
kees, but  if  I  live  a  year  longer  I  will 
avenge  him.  But  how  does  it  hap- 
pen that  you're  all  dressed  ?"  he  said, 
suspiciously. 

"Asenith  has  been  so  dreadfully 
sick, "  she  replied,  hurriedly ;  ' '  Rita, 
I  must  go  home — you  shall  stay. " 

"  No  she  musn't,"  interrupted 
Rufus,  "she  is  to  go  home  with 
us.  Father  particularly  told  me 
that." 

They  went  up  stairs  ostensibly  to 
put  on  their  bonnets  and  cloaks, 
but  in  reality  to  consult  together. 
Asenith  presently  came  to  them. 

"I  see  by  Rufus'  manner  that 
there  are  some  suspicions  afloat," 
she  said.  ' '  Go  home,  both  of  you, 
and  leave  him  to  me." 

There  was  nothing  else  to  be  done, 
and  not  even  a  glance  of  farewell 
could  be  given.  Adela  was  almost 
glad  of  a  pretext  for  her  tears,  as  she 


entered  the  carriage  and  asked  Rufus 
how  the  news  had  come. 

1 '  Mr.  Gordon  received  the  tele- 
graph late  in  the  night,  and  sent  it 
right  out,"  he  answered. 

"But  it  may  not  be  true!"  said 
his  sister. 

' '  Nonsense, ''  returned  Rufus ;  but 
she  repeated  the  words  to  her  father 
as  he  came  out  in  the  early  dawn  to 
meet  her  and  assisted  her  from  the 
carriage. 

"Alas!  it  must  be  true!''  he  re- 
plied. ' '  Only  look  at  that,  my  dear. " 

He  placed  a  telegram  in  her  hand 
which  she  read  aloud.  There  were 
but  a  few  words,  but  they  were  defi- 
nite enough  to  convince  the  most 
unbelieving. 

' '  Col.  Claude  Leveredge  was  killed 

at ,  on  the  2Oth  instant,  while 

leading  a  charge  on  the  enemy's 
works.  Body  not  recovered. " 

Miss  Holmes  burst  into  tears, 
and  hurried  into  the  house,  while 
La  Guerita  turned  slowly  toward 
her  own  cabin,  saying  to  herself: 
' '  Dead  !  dead  !  Gone  into  the  pres- 
ence of  God  and  Harold  without 
one  word  of  forgiveness  from  my 
lips.  Oh,  Claude  !  Claude !  how 
gladly  would  I  have  spoken  them  ; 
for,  base  as  all  your  other  feelings 
seemed,  your  love  for  me  at  least  was 
pure  !" 

She  found  a  strange  pleasure  in 
that  thought ;  she  felt  that  the  pure 
love  she  pictured  had  honored  her, 
perhaps,  more  than  him  ;  no  other 
woman  would  have  commanded  it 
from  such  a  heart.  She  could  not 
grieve  for  him ;  'twas  hard  for  her,  so 
far  as  to  triumph  over  her  weak  hu- 
man nature,  as  to  refrain  from  some 
slight  joy  when  she  thought  how  great 


In  Bonds. 


179 


a  boon  his  death  was  to  her;  yet 
withal,  her  heart  softened  toward 
him,  and  she  gave  a  sigh  to  Claude 
Leveredge  dead,  that  no  art  could 
have  gained  from  her  during  his 
life. 

Mrs.  Holmes,  as  Henry  had  rep- 
resented, was  indeed  in  hysterics,  and 
remained  in  them  during  most  of 
the  following  day ;  and  not  only  Mr. 
Holmes,  but  the  children  and  serv- 
ants seemed  crazed.  And  worst  of 
all  to  Miss  Holmes  and  La  Guerita 
Mr.  Gordon  came  out  to  advise  and 
condole  with  the  family  in  their  afflic- 
tion. 

For  nearly  a  week  the  only  news 
gained  of  Thornton  was  through 
Harold,  who  was  sent  to  Asenith  ?s 
on  some  pretext  each  day.  He  was 
never  told  the  name  of  the  stranger 
whom  he  knew  to  be  concealed,  and 
whose  cause  he  espoused  for  Miss 
Adela's  sake  with  exemplary  zeal  and 
discretion. 

Never  had  Miss  Holmes  passed  a 
week  of  such  terrible  anxiety.  The 
sadness  of  her  home  was  aggravated 
by  her  fears  for  Thornton.  Day  after 
day  she  heard  that  he  was  growing 
stronger,  but  that  in  no  degree  les- 
sened his  chances  of  discovery,  for 
the  news  of  the  escape  of  the  pris- 
oners ran  like  wild-fire  through  the 
country,  and  means  for  their  recovery 
were  eagerly  adopted. 

One  alone  was  captured,  and  he 
would  reveal  nothing  of  the  locality 
in  which  their  dangerous  experiment 
had  been  made. 

Later  in  the  week  Asenith  Bray 
sent  word  that  she  was  herself  ex- 
tremely ill,  and  notwithstanding  the 
protests  of  her  father  and  mother, 
Miss  Holmes  hastened  to  her,  de- 


claring she  would  not  leave  so  good 
a  woman  to  die  alone. 

"I  shall  probably  stay  there  three 
or  four  days, "  she  said,  when  alone 
with  La  Guerita.  "I  know  it  is 
Thornton  that  is  so  extremely  ill. 
Oh  what  joy  it  will  be  to  see  him  and 
to  tell  him  who  was  his  deliverer  ! " 

"  But  that  you  must  not  do  !"  re- 
turned La  Guerita,  hastily.  ' '  I  can- 
not bear  that  he  should  see  me  here. 
He  cannot  help  me,  and  I  have 
nothing  now  to  fear  in  slavery. 
Promise  me,  then,  that  you  will  not 
betray  me. " 

' '  Betray  you  ! " 

* '  Yes.  If  he  reaches  the  Union 
lines  he  would  relate  all  to  my 
brother,  and  give  him  years  of  mis- 
ery that  he  may  as  well  be  spared, 
for,  indeed,  he  cannot  help  me. 
Promise  me,  then,  that  you  will  not 
tell  Thornton  who  saved  him. " 

' '  I  promise  until  I  again  see  you, " 
said  Miss  Holmes,  sadly;  "yet  I 
think  you  are  wrong.  But  I  can  re- 
fuse you  nothing. " 

"There  is  Minna  calling  you," 
said  La  Guerita. 

' '  So  she  is,  dear  child,  with  Rufus 
by  her  side,  looking  as  black  as  a 
thunderbolt.  He  characteristically 
remarked  this  morning  that  if  Claude 
had  sent  him  his  spurs  which  he 
promised  should  be  his  if  he  was 
killed,  he  would  put  them  on  and 
never  take  them  off  until  they  were 
dyed  red  with  the  blood  of  his  cow- 
ardly Yankee  murderers.  The  child 
actually  makes  me  shudder. " 

She  left  the  cabin,  and  shortly  after 
proceeded  to  Asenith  Bray's.  She 
found  the  old  Quakeress  sitting,  as 
usual,  in  her  outer  room  sorting 
herbs. 


i8o 


In  Bonds. 


' '  I  am  glad  thee  has  come  at  last, " 
she  said,  as  Adela  kissed  her  cheeks, 
which  she  noticed  with  a  pang  were 
unusually  pale. 

"And  I  am  glad,"  she  answered, 
"not  only  for  his  sake,  but  yours. 
You  must  go  now  and  lie  down, 
your  pale  face  reproaches  me. " 

' '  It  need  not,  child,  it  need  not, 
for  he  was  quieter  last  night,  and  I 
had  some  rest.  But  the  neighbors 
have  troubled  me  sorely  each  day ; 
so  many  have  come  in,  and  I  have 
been  in  constant  fear  the  poor  lad 
would  betray  his  presence  by  a  word 
or  moan.  Go  in  now,  I  will  move 
about  these  dishes  of  herbs  if  any 
one  comes  in,  that  the  rattling  may 
warn  thee  to  keep  silence." 

"I  will  remember,"  said  Adela, 
and  stealing  softly  away  to  the  cham- 
ber where  Thornton  was  lying,  look- 
ed fully,  for  the  first  time  in  years, 
upon  the  face  of  her  lover.  It  was 
sadly  altered.  He  seemed,  indeed, 
altogether  but  a  wreck  of  his  former 
self;  yet  never  had  Adela  loved  him 
so  well  as  now,  in  his  helplessness, 
when  she  was  called  upon  to  endure 
trials  and  danger  for  his  sake. 

She  bent  over  him  and  kissed 
him,  and  awaking,  with  a  cry  of  de- 
light he  rapturously  bade  her  wel- 
come. 

"I  know  why  you  have  stayed 
away  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  ' '  but  I 
thought  that  you  would  never  come, 
my  precious  Adela  !  " 

"Dear  Thornton,  you  know  it  was 
hard  for  me  to  stay  away, "  she  said  ; 
"but  I  could  not  leave  my  home 
without  seeming  unkind  or  arousing 
suspicions. " 

"  I  know  it — I  know  it,  my  love  ; 
but  no  reasoning  could  quiet  my  im- 


patience to  see  you.  I  am  quite  con- 
tent now  that  you  are  here. " 

He  seemed  so,  indeed,  for  he  lay 
for  a  long  time  with  his  hand  clasped 
in  her's — too  weak  to  talk,  but  listen- 
ing with  delight  to  what  she  related  of 
her  life  since  they  parted. 

' '  But  you  have  told  me  nothing 
of  that  brave  girl — Rita, "  he  said,  at 
last. 

"She  is  well,"  she  replied,  color- 
ing ;  ' '  she  has  been  unable  to  leave 
home  ;  they  would  miss  her  even 
more  than  they  do  me. " 

' '  I  had  such  strange  thoughts 
about  her  while  I  was  delirious," 
said  Thornton  ;  "I  remember  them 
all  now.  I  kept  on  fancying  that  she 
stood  beside  me  vailed,  and  that  I 
sometimes  fancied  her  one  person, 
and  then,  again,  another.  I  am  sure 
I  must  have  seen  her  somewhere. 
Has  she  ever  been  North  with  you  ? " 

' '  No,  Thornton,  never, "  answered 
Miss  Holmes,  almost  unable  to  re- 
strain her  secret,  yet  doing  so  more 
for  his  sake,  perhaps,  than  that  of  La 
Guerita.  '  *  You  must  be  silent  now. 
You  have  talked  already  too  much. 
Asenith  will  think  me  a  careless 
nurse. " 

On  the  contrary,  Asenith  declared 
herself  perfectly  satisfied,  and  at  an 
early  hour  retired  to  seek  the  rest  she 
so  greatly  needed ;  and  for  hours 
Adela  sat  in  the  darkened  room, 
bending  anxiously  over  her  sleeping 
lover.  He  awoke  at  last  with  a  start  ; 
but  a  word  from  her  lips  calmed  him. 

"Then  I  was  not  dreaming,"  he 
muttered;  "you  are  my  love,  in 
truth,  beside  me  ?  " 

' '  Yes,  dear  Thornton  ;  yes  !  " 

"But  you  will  go  again  ?  "  he  said, 
uneasily.  "All  those  weary  years 


In  Bonds. 


181 


Claude  Leveredge  kept  you  from  me 
will  be  repeated  ?  " 

' '  You  forget,  dear  Thornton,  that 
Claude  is  dead." 

"Ah,  yes  !  so  he  is  !  I  must  bear 
malice  no  longer  ;  but,  indeed,  it  is 
hard  for  me  to  forgive  him  when  I 
think  what  our  home  would  have 
been  all  these  wear}7  years !  " 

Miss  Holmes  sighed. 

' '  Yet,  perhaps,  after  all, "  she  said, 
at  length,  ' '  this  separation  may  have 
been  for  our  good.  Remember  you 
wrould  still  have  been  a  soldier  and  a 
prisoner,  and  God,  knows,  I  might 
soon  have  been  your  widow. " 

' '  That  is  true,  my  love.  God  bless 
you.  You  are,  then,  true  to  the 
Union  as  well  as  to  me.  Oh,  I  have 
longed  for  one  single  assurance  of 
that." 

' '  I  must  not  let  you  talk,  Thorn- 
ton," said  Miss  Holmes,  gently, 
' '  though  it  is  hard  indeed  for  me  to 
bid  you  be  silent.  It  is  so  long  since 
I  have  heard  your  voice,  save  in  my 
dreams. " 

' '  Oh,  blessed  dreams, "  murmured 
Thornton  ;  ' '  they  have  brought  you 
to  me  a  thousand,  thousand  times. 
Through  them  I  have  felt  your  hand 
in  mine,  your  kisses  on  my  lips.  But 
I  would  not  exchange  one  moment 
of  this  reality  for  a  world  of  dreams. " 

She  bent  and  kissed  him,  and  he 
held  her  head  a  moment  to  his  bosom, 
calling  her  his  wife,  his  very  own. 

That  was  indeed  a  season  of  de- 
light. But  as  the  night  passed  on, 
Thornton's  feverish  vagaries  return- 
ed. He  lay  fearfully  awake,  listening 
anxiously  to  every  sound,  and  filling 
Adela  with  his  own  vague  fears. 
The  window  was  closely  curtained, 
yet  he  declared,  nervously,  that  some 


rays  of  light  from  the  table  lamp 
were  surely  falling  upon  the  garden. 
At  last  Miss  Holmes  arose  and, 
almost  fainting  with  terror,  entered 
the  garden.  All  was  dark.  She 
even  pressed  her  face  to  the  win- 
dow, but  Asenith  had  covered  it  so 
well  that  not  a  glimmer  could  be  dis- 
covered behind  the  black  screen. 
She  re-entered  the  house  to  assure 
Thornton  of  this,  and  found  him  filled 
with  the  most  agonizing  fears  for  her 
safety. 

"Don't  leave  me  again,"  he  en- 
treated. ' '  Something  might  happen 
to  you.  Give  me  your  hand  and 
sit  beside  me.  I  can  be  sure  of  you 
then." 

1 '  The  second  night  was  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  first ;  and  as  Adela  had 
refused  to  leave  Thornton  even  dur- 
ing the  day,  she  could  not  conquer 
the  drowsiness  that  came  upon  her  in 
the  early  morning,  when  Thornton 
slumbered  under  the  influence  of 
some  herb,  for  the  virtues  of  which 
Asenith  vouched,  and  sinking  back 
into  her  chair  she  fell  into  a  deep 
sleep. 

So  Asenith  found  her  an  hour  later, 
and  awakening  her  cautiously  sent 
her  to  her  chamber,  where  she  sank 
upon  the  bed,  and,  with  a  muttered 
prayer  for  Thornton,  again  slept.  At 
about  ten  o'clock  she  was  again 
aroused  by  Asenith,  who  came  to  her 
bedside  to  tell  her  that  her  father  was 
below. 

1 '  And  verily, "  she  added,  "  I  had ,, 
no  call  to  feign  sickness,  for  his  com- 
ing startled  me  so  that  he  said  I  was 
as  white  as  a  sheet,  and  chid  me  for 
getting  up,  but  I  told  him  I  could 
not  bear  to  keep  thee  longer  from  thy 
bed,  for  thee  hadst  been  up  much  of 


182 


In   Bonds. 


the  two  nights  thou  hadst  passed 
here. " 

* '  Then  he  will  be  prepared  for  my 
haggard  looks, "  returned  Adela,  has- 
tily bathing  her  face,  and  smoothing 
her  hair.  ' '  I  wonder  what  he  has 
come  for  ?  Perhaps  only  to  see  me, 
or  with  fresh  news  of  Claude. " 

The  last  conjecture  was  correct,  al- 
though Mr.  Holmes  said  truly  he  had 
been  longing  to  see  his  daughter. 
He  gave  her  half  a  dozen  telegrams 
relating  to  her  cousin,  all  verifying 
the  intelligence  of  his  death. 

"  I  think  I  should  have  been  bet- 
ter satisfied  if  we  could  have  got  the 
poor  fellow's  body, "  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
sorrowfully.  ' '  I  cannot  endure  the 
thought  that  his  body  should  lie  up- 
on the  field  undistinguishable  from 
those  of  the  cursed  Yankees. " 

"Oh,  papa,  hush!" 

' '  Don't  look  so  shocked,  Addie  ; 
I  didn't  mean  to  hurt  your  feelings. 
After  all,  as  Claude  was  an  officer, 
they  may  have  buried  him.  Poor 
boy,  poor  boy  !  " 

' '  His  fate  was  very  sad, "  said  Miss 
Holmes,  sorrowfully,  ' '  and  yet  it  has 
been  the  same  with  thousands  during 
the  last  two  years. " 

' '  That  is  so,  but  very  few  young 
men  were  like  Claude,"  answered 
Mr.  Holmes,  "and  my  greatest 
trouble  is  to  think  that  none  of  us 
ever  understood  him.  You  know, 
Adela,  contrary  to  all  expectations, 
he  never  declared  love  for  you.  I 
know  now  the  reason. " 

"What  was  it?"  Miss  Holmes 
asked,  anxiously. 

"  He  feared  that  it  was  not  recipro- 
cated. I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt 
now  that  he  did  love  you  most  de- 
votedly." 


"Indeed!" 

' '  Yes  ;  for  yesterday,  in  a  way  that 
women  all  have,  your  mother  went  to 
soothe  her  grief  by  looking  at  every- 
thing that  could  remind  her  of 
Claude,  in  that  way  hoping  to  accus- 
tom herself  to  his  loss,  I  suppose. 
Well,  in  a  little  pocket  in  one  of  his 
trunks  she  found  a  miniature  case, 
containing  the  likeness  of  a  beautiful, 
fair-haired  girl,  and  under  it,  in  tiny 
seed  pearls,  was  placed  the  word 
'AdeleV  It  was  evidently  a  fancy 
picture  he  had  picked  up  in  France 
and  fancied  like  you,  and  convinces 
me  that  the  poor  fellow  really  loved 
you." 

She  perceived  that  the  thought  gave 
him  far  more  pleasure  than  pain,  and 
although  she  had  a  thousand  reasons 
for  freeing  his  mind  of  the  false  idea, 
she  knew  she  could  only  do  so  by 
betraying  La  Guerita's  secret,  and 
blackening  the  memory  of  her  cousin 
to  the  only  man  on  earth  that  loved 
him. 

He  continued  to  talk  on  his  favor- 
ite topic  for  an  hour  or  more.  Never 
was  his  daughter  so  thankful  as  when 
he  took  his  departure.  She  hurried 
into  Thornton's  room,  and  found  him 
in  a  perfect  fever.  He  had  recog- 
nized the  voice,  and  heard  most  of 
the  conversation. 

' '  It  was  true,  then,  after  all.  Claude 
did  love  you,  and  that  was  why  he 
separated  us." 

' '  You  are  mistaken, "  she  answer- 
ed, gently.  ' '  It  was  that  young  girl 
at  Fairview  that  he  loved ;  that  he 
told  me  the  last  time  I  saw  him  he 
should  love  forever." 

' '  True,  true  ;  I  had  forgotten. 
Can  it  be  possible  that  he  had  any- 
thing to  do  with  her  disappearance  ? " 


In  Bonds. 


183 


' '  Her  disappearance  ? " 

' '  .Yes  ;  did  he  not  tell  you  ?  Her 
husband  died,  and  she,  I  think,  must 
have  become  insane,  though  we  did 
not  notice  it  at  the  time.  At  any 
rate,  she  left  her  home,  and  nothing, 
literally  nothing,  has  been  heard  of 
her  since.  She  dropped  out  of  our 
world  as  completely  as  if  the  earth 
had  opened  and  swallowed  her." 

' '  Was  she  sought  for  ? " 

"Certainly.  Her  brother  arrived 
from  Europe  a  few  days  after  her  loss,  ' 
and  devoted  months  to  her  pursuit, 
beside  which,  instantly  upon  her  de- 
parture, her  brother-in-law  and  myself 
sought  her  in  every  direction,  besides 
employing  the  most  active  of  the  se- 
cret police  throughout  the  country. " 

"And  what  does  her  brother 
think  ?  "  asked  Adela,  scarcely  able  to 
retain  her  secret  as  she  gazed  upon 
her  lover's  sorrowful  face. 

' '  He  will  not  say  that  he  has  given 
up  hope, "  he  returned,  ' '  and  her 
house  is  still  kept  in  readiness  for  her 
return^  but  in  reality  he  must  think, 
with  the  rest  of  us,  that  she  in  some 
manner  destroyed  herself  and  her 
child." 

That  cruel,  cruel  thought  Adela 
would  have  destroyed  in  a  moment, 
but  that  she  was  hurriedly  called  from 
the  room  by  Asenith,  and  she  remem- 
bered before  returning  the  promise 
she  had  given.  She  determined,  if 
possible,  however,  to  learn  something 
of  La  Guerita's  friends,  and  to  that 
end  said  : 

' '  And  what  is  her  brother  doing 
now  ? " 

"Oh,  he  is  in  the  army,  and  was 
badly  wounded,  poor  fellow,  the  day 
before  I  was  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  shot  through  the  shoulder,  and  it 


will  be  some  time  before  he  will  be  fit 
for  service  again,  and  Victor  DeGrey, 
poor  fellow,  I  heard  was  taken  pris- 
oner. "  9 

"Oh,  dreadful!" 

Thornton  supposed  she  alluded  to 
the  fate  of  the  young  men,  while  she 
in  reality  was  thinking  how  entirely 
useless  it  would  be  for  her  to  disclose 
the  position  of  La  Guerita. 

"  I  wish,"  he  said,  "I  could  know 
how  poor  Fabean  is  getting  on.  Np 
doubt  he  is  at  this  moment  lying  at 
the  hospital  thinking  of  me.  We  have 
fought  together  through  all  the  war, 
and  love  each  other  like  brothers. " 

"  It  is  so  sad  that  he  should  be  in 
ignorance  of  his  sister's  fate,"  said 
Adela  ;  ' '  the  constant  suspense  must 
be  dreadful." 

' '  It  is.  I  think  his  mind  would 
be  comparatively  relieved  if  he  could 
know  she  and  her  child  \vere  really 
dead.  But  if,  as  I  sometimes  think, 
she  is  pursuing  some  wretched  life, 
from  which  he  would  find  it  impos- 
sible to  wean  her,  it  is  better  for  him 
ever  to  remain  in  doubt.  It  would 
kill  him  to  see  her  unhappy. " 

These  few  words  decided  her. 
Miss  Holmes  needed  no  second  en- 
treaty to  keep  silence. 

* '  Doubt  is  in  this  case  better  than 
certainty,"  she  mused,  "  until  we  can 
give  that  blessed  certainty  that  she 
lives,  and  can  be  free. " 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

UNDER  the  skillful  treatment  of  Ase- 
nith Bray,  and  the  tender  care  of  his 
betrothed,  Thornton  Leslie  rapidly 
grew  better,  and  at  the  end  of  a  week 
declared  his  intention  of  striving  to 
gain  the  Union  lines  ;  but  the  entrea- 


184 


In  Bonds. 


ties  of  Adela,  and  his  own  disincli- 
nation to  part  from  her,  detained 
him  somewhat  longer  ;  and  anxious 
as  he  was  to  reach  the  army,  fearing 
that  she  would  still,  in  his  weakness, 
have  found  some  cause  for  delay, 
he  would  have  still  stayed,  had  not  a 
most  unexpected  event  accelerated 
his  departure. 

He  was  sitting  one  day  talking  to 
Adela,  when  he  was  silenced  by  voices 
in  the  outer  room,  and  presently  Ase- 
nith  came  to  the  door  and  softly  call- 
ed :  "Adela!" 

She  obeyed  the  summons,  but  pres- 
ently returned  to  the  room,  with  a  face 
as  white  as  snow,  crying,  in  a  voice  of 
affright :  ' '  Thornton,  you  must  go  ; 
you  must  leave  us  instantly  !  " 

' '  What  has  happened  ?  "  he  de- 
manded, in  great  agitation  ;  "is  my 
presence  here  discovered  ?  Oh,  God  ! 
I  shall  never  forgive  myself  if  I  have 
brought  you  into  danger  !  " 

She  made  no  reply,  but  gave  him 
a  paper — weeping  on  his  shoulder  as 
he  read  it.  There  were  but  a  few 
words  ;  ' '  Asenith's  house  will  be 
thoroughly  searched  to-night. " 

' '  Who  brought  you  this  ?  "  he  ask- 
ed, in  amazement ;  ' '  and  who  wrote 
it  ? " 

' '  The  last  we  do  not  know  ;  I 
cannot  even  guess, "  replied  Adela  ; 
' '  it  proves,  however,  that  it  is  known 
to  at  least  one  person  that  you  are 
here." 

' '  I  have  not  a  moment  to  spare, " 
said  Thornton,  rising  ;  ' '  give  me  a 
wallet  of  food,  my  love,  and  let  me 

go-" 

She  left  the  room,  but  instantly  re- 
turned to  say,  that  Asenith  was  mak- 
ing everything  ready  for  his  flight. 
"Oh,  Thornton  I"  she  exclaimed, 


' '  if  I  had  only  let  you  go  before  ! 
Rita  begged  me  to  do  so ;  but  I 
could  not  send  you  away. " 

' '  Who  came  with  this  note  ?  " 
asked  Thornton,  suddenly  ;  ' '  was  it 
Rita  ? " 

"Yes!"  answered  Miss  Holmes, 
reluctantly. 

' '  And  you  did  not  bring  her  in  to 
see  me.  Ah,  Adela,  that  was  really 
unkind. " 

' '  She  would  not  come,  Thornton, 
although  I  begged  her  to  do  so  ;  but 
Rita  is  so  strange  ;  one  can  seldom 
comprehend  her." 

"So  I  should  think  ;  but  where 
did  she  get  the  note  ?  " 

"She  was  walking  in  the  field,  at 
the  back  of  her  cabin,  when  a  negro 
boy  ran  out  of  the  woods,  sprang 
over  the  fence,  placed  that  note  in 
her  hands,  and.  disappeared  without  a 
word.  She  thought  it  must  be  of  im- 
portance, and  brought  it  directly  to 
me." 

' '  God  bless  her  !  "  cried  Thorn- 
ton, fervently  ;  ' '  she  has,  perhaps, 
saved  my  life  for  a  second  time  ;  I 
wish  I, could  have  seen  her,  if  but  for 
a  moment,  to  tell  her  how  I  appreci- 
ate her  efforts.  She  must  love  you 
dearly,  Adela,  to  be  willing  to  risk  so 
much  for  your  lover. " 

It  was  decided  that  it  would  be  best 
for  Thornton  not  to  begin  his  jour- 
ney until  after  sunset,  as  fewer  peo- 
ple would  then  be  abroad  to  be  at- 
tracted by  his  strange  and  haggard 
appearance.  At  an  early  hour  they 
sat  down  and  partook  of  the  evening 
meal  together ;  and  afterwards  Adela 
took  from  her  pocket  a  small  map, 
drawn  on  tracing-paper. 

' '  This, "  she  said,  ' '  was  brought 
to  me  with  the  note.  You  must  un- 


In  Bonds. 


derstand  that  Rita  has  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  the  geography  of  her  State, 
and  that  she  also  draws  quite  fairly. 
Bv  putting  the  two  accomplishments 
together  she  has  produced  this  map. 
I  am  sure  I  cannot  tell  where  she 
gained  all  the  information  ;  you  will, 
however,  find  it  correct." 

Thornton  looked  at  the  map  in 
the  greatest  astonishment.  ' '  This  is 
a  treasure  beyond  price, "  he  exclaim- 
ed, and  Rita  must  be  some  benefi- 
cent fain\  Tell  her,  dear  Adela, 
how  I  hope  one  day  to  thank  her  for 
all  she  has  done.  Stay  ;  take  to  her 
this  little  locket ;  it  contains  the  hair 
of  my  mother  and  sister.  Try  to 
make  her  understand  how  they  will 
bless  her  name. " 

' '  I  will, "  said  Adela,  as  Thornton 
disengaged  the  locket  from  his  chain 
and  placed  it  in  her  hand .  "I  know 
she  will  prize  this  little  gift  more  than 
untold  gold.  By  the  way,  you  have 
some  gold  ?  " 

' '  Plenty  ;  and  greenbacks,  too. '' 

"Either  of  which  would  lay  you 
open  to  suspicion  if  you  should  be 
stopped  and  searched  ;  so  you  must 
consent  to  exchange  a  part  of  them, 
at  least,  for  Confederate  notes.  " 

He  readily  consented,  looking  rue- 
fully at  the  crisp  pieces  of  paper  and 
the  ' '  butternut "  suit  with  which  Ase- 
nith  had  provided  him,  saying  : 

' '  I  wish  I  dared  resume  my  uni- 
form. If  the  Lord  permits,  I  will 
resurrect  some  day  the  suit  you  have 
buried,  and  wear  it  at  our  wedding, 
Adela." 

She  sank  into  his  arms,  crying  out, 
with  a  moan,  that  it  was  so  hard  to 
part  from  him ;  her  heart  would 
break.  He  soothed  her  gently,  hold- 
ing her  to  his  throbbing  heart,  pray- 
24 


ing  God  to  bless  and  preserve  his 
promised  bride. 

He  bade  her  farewell  at  last,  and 
vainly  striving  to  be  calm,  that  she 
might  not  unman  him  by  the  sight 
of  her  grief.  Adela  witnessed  his 
farewell  to  Asenith,  and  saw,  with 
surprise,  that  she  gave  him  a  pair  of 
handsomely  mounted  pistols,  saying, 
as  she  placed  them  in  his  belt  : 

"I  pray  thee  not  to  use  them 
wantonly,  and  aim  high,  if  thee 
needs  must  fire  at  all. " 

"The  mark  often  is  high,"  re- 
turned Thornton  ;  ' '  and  now  good- 
by ;  take  care  of  my  Adela,  as  you 
have  cared  for  me,  and  Heaven  will 
reward  you. " 

Asenith  returned  his  parting  kiss, 
and  then,  as  he  turned  and  caught 
Adela  to  his  bosom,  begged  him  to 
hasten,  pointing  to  a  path,  which 
could  be  dimly  seen  through  the 
darkening  woods.  He  pressed  a  kiss 
upon  the  lips  of  his  betrothed,  and 
rushed  from  the  house ;  and  when 
she  raised  her  head  he  had  disap- 
peared from  view. 

He  was  gone — gone — and  into 
what  dangers — what  privations- — her 
loving  heart  alone  could  picture. 
Asenith  went  away  to  arrange  and 
close  the  chamber,  that  Thornton's 
coming  had  opened  for  the  first  time 
since  her  mother  died  there  ;  and 
Adela  wandered  out  into  the  garden, 
to  breathe  in  with  the  air  of  evening 
that  tranquility  of  spirit  which  dead- 
ens sorrow,  arouses  hope,  and  fills 
the  mind  with  peace. 

She  went  into  the  house  at  last, 
calmed  and  strengthened.  Asenith 
met  her  at  the  door  and  they  stood 
together  for  sometime  regarding  the 
heavens  and  exchanging  remarks  up- 


i86 


In  Bonds. 


on  the  weather,  but  breathing  not  a 
word  of  him  upon  whom  their  hearts 
were  centered.  They  spent  the  even- 
ing in  cheerful  conversation,  and  at 
an  early  hour  parted  for  the  night. 
Adela  went  to  an  upper  chamber, 
and  partly  disrobing  sat  down  at  the 
window  and  looked  steadfastly  in  the 
direction  Thornton  had  taken,  as  if 
she  could  hope  to  pierce  the  recesses 
of  the  forest,  and  assure  herself  of  his 
weal  or  woe. 

She  sat  there  a  long  time,  mourn- 
fully looking  out  upon  the  bright 
stars,  and  the  pines  that  swayed  be- 
neath them,  filled  with  such  visions 
of  terror  that  she  dared  not  retire, 
and  listening  intently  to  the  sough  of 
the  wind  through  the  trees,  fancying 
at  times  the  rustling  of  their  boughs 
to  be  the  echo  of  countless  footsteps, 
and  the  shrieks  of  the  night-birds' 
cries  of  despair. 

At  last  it  was  possible  for  her  to 
doubt  no  longer.  She  heard  footsteps 
both  of  horses  and  men.  She  listened 
intently  for  a  few  moments,  her  face 
growing  white  as  their  steady  tramp 
drew  nearer. 

"They  are  coming, "  she  muttered, 
at  last.  "Well,  well,  they  are  wel- 
come ;  they  will  find  no  trace  of  him, 
I  know." 

She  hastily  dropped  the  curtain  of 
her  window,  and  knelt  below  it  in 
order  to  hear  all  that  might  occur. 
•Soon  the  garden  gate  was  opened  and 
a  number  of  men  walked  up  the 
path,  dropping  their  guns  heavily 
upon  the  porch,  while  the  captain  de- 
manded admittance.  It  was  readily 
granted,  and  a  few  minutes  later  she 
heard  them  passing  from  room  to 
room,  opening  the  doors  of  closets 
and  the  lids  of  chests.  She  hastily 


threw  a  wrapper  around  her,  and  stole 
on  tip-toe  to  the  landing  at  the  head 
of  the  stairs.  She  heard  the  men 
leave  the  kitchen  and  Asenith's  cham- 
ber, and  enter  the  sitting-room. 

' '  Nothing  discovered  yet, "  said  the 
captain.  ' '  Lee  us  see  what  is  kept 
upstairs." 

"Thee  must  wait  until  I  call  down 
the  young  woman  who  is  tarrying 
with  me,"  interposed  Asenith,  as  he 
stepped  toward  the  stairs. 

' '  Oh,  certainly,  but  be  quick  about 
it,"  he  replied,  adding  in  a  whisper 
to  one  of  the  men,  "make  sure  that 
it  is  a  woman.  Ah,  here  she  comes." 

He  touched  his  hat  and  apologized 
for  disturbing  her  as  Miss  Holmes 
entered  the  room. 

' '  Do  not  mention  it, "  she  returned, 
courteously ;  ' '  but  I  beg  you  will 
complete  your  task  as  quickly  as 
possible. " 

With  admirable  self-possession,  al- 
though she  felt  most  painfully  abashed 
by  the  gaze  of  the  soldiers,  she  waved 
her  hand  toward  the  staircase,  and 
said  : 

"Continue  your  search,  if  you 
please. " 

The  captain  looked  as  if  he  would 
willingly  have  restrained  his  men, 
but  without  waiting  for  orders  several 
at  once  rushed  up  the  stairs,  presently 
returning  with  the  tidings  that  no  one 
was  to  be  found. 

Adela's  face  burned.  It  seemed  to 
her  that  by  this  search  she  had  been 
personally  insulted,  and  with  proud 
disdain  she  stood  beside  Asenith  and 
looked  at  the  baffled  soldiers. 

' '  We  havn't  looked  into  that  room, 
captain,"  said  one,  pointing  to  the 
door  of  the  chamber  lately  occupied 
by  Thornton. 


n  Bonds. 


"  Give  me  the  key,  if  you  please," 
said  the  officer  to  Asenith,  as  he 
placed  his  hand  on  the  lock. 

' '  I  pray  thee  not  to  enter  that 
room,"  said  Asenith,  with  so  much 
emotion  that  Miss  Holmes  for  the 
first  time  guessed  how  great  a  trial  it 
had  been  for  her  even  to  place  Thorn- 
ton there.  ' '  That  was  my  mother's 
room — she  died  there.  I  pray  thee 
to  take  my  word  that  no  person  is 
there  concealed." 

"I  must  look  into  the  room,  my 
good  woman,"  returned  the  captain, 
smiling  at  the  delicacy  of  feeling  he 
could  not  understand.  ' '  I  have  my 
orders  to  search  every  nook  and  cor- 
ner of  this  building,  and  I  must  and 
will  obey  them.  " 

' '  The  very  heart's  blood  of  thy 
people,  O,  Lord,  is  drained  by  the 
hands  of  their  persecutors,"  exclaim- 
ed Asenith,  bitterly  ;  "yea,  verily  the 
tombs  and  consecrated  places  do  they 
enter  and  lay  waste  !  " 

' '  Give  me  the  key, "  said  the  cap- 
tain, looking  at  her,  darkly. 

1 '  Cant  !  "  ejaculated  one  of  the 
soldiers. 

' '  Peace  preacher  !  "  cried  another. 

' '  Open  the  door  !  ''  cried  a  third. 
' '  Let's  see  whether  the  old  Quaker 
traitress  tells  the  truth  !  " 

"Stand  back  !  "  exclaimed  Asenith, 
her  face  becoming  suddenly  pale  and 
determined  ;  ' '  not  one  of  ye  reviler^ 
shall  enter  in. " 

She  beckoned  to  the  captain  and  a 
few  others,  who  had  maintained  a 
respectful  silence,  and  opening  the 
door  bade  them  enter.  They  did  so, 
peering  cautiously  about  the  quaint 
apartment. 

' '  We  have  been  deceived, "  said 
one,  ' '  there  is  no  one  here. " 


' '  Nor  has  there  been  for  years, " 
added  the  captain.  ' '  Our  business 
is  now  ended. " 

The  soldiers  shouldered  their  arms, 
and  after  uttering  courteous  adieus, 
the  captain  led  his  troop  from  the 
house. 

' '  They  are  watching  us  still, "  said 
Asenith,  a  few  minutes  later,  smiling 
grimly  as.  they  caught  the  sounds  of 
stealthy  footsteps  without.  ' '  I  did 
wrong  to-night  in  hesitating  to  admit 
them  to  that  room.  By  doing  so  I 
aroused  their  suspicions,  and  trouble 
may  yet  come  from  it — but  I  could 
not  bear  that  these  rude  men  should 
enter  my  sanctuary. " 

And  then  she  whispered  to  Adela 
the  tale  she  had  often  heard  from 
other  lips — how  that  her  lover  had 
died  in  that  chamber,  stricken  sud- 
denly, upon  the  night  before  that 
appointed  for  his  bridal. 

' '  Hark  !  What  is  that  ? "  said  Ade- 
la, suddenly. 

It  was  a  great  outcry,  followed  by 
the  sound  of  men  running  to  and  fro. 
Suddenly  a  bright  light  filled  the  room 
and,  with  a  cry  of  fear,  Adela  sprang 
to  the  door  and  unbolted  it.  Flames 
were  shooting  forth  from  a  building 
at  the  right  of  the  house,  and  were 
being  blown  by  the  fresh  wind  directly 
toward  it. 

"Oh,  my  barn,  my  wheat,  my 
hay  !  "  cried  Asenith,  standing  as  if 
riveted  to  the  spot,  while  Adela  rushed 
into  the  gardens,  where  she  heard  va- 
rious ejaculations  from  the  soldiers. 

"That  drunken  Jackson  did  it," 
said  one,  ' '  by  holding  the  candle  too 
close  to  the  hay. " 

Adela  ran  past  the  group  and  ap- 
proached the  fire.  The  men  were 
stupidly  looking  on  ;  the  captain 


In    Bonds. 


alone  seemed   excited  by  what  had 
happened. 

"This  is  most  unfortunate,"  he 
exclaimed,  ' '  and  perfectly  accidental, 
I  assure  you." 

"Then  for  Heaven's  sake,"  cried 
Adela,  ' '  why  do  you  not  take  some 
means  to  stop  the  conflagration  ? 
There  is  water  in  the  well. " 

"And  a  gourd  to  dip  it  up  with," 
laughed  a  soldier,  while  the  captain 
explained  that  the  house  was  so  old, 
and  all  within  it  so  combustible,  that 
it  was  useless  to  attempt  to  save  it. 

' '  But  the  house,  the  house  is  burn- 
ing !  "  cried  Adela,  rushing  toward  it, 
as  she  perceived  that  the  left  wing  was 
ablaze.  ' '  Help,  help  ;  try  to  save 
the  furniture,  at  least." 

Several  men,  roused  by  her  cry, 
rushed  to  the  building  and  carried 
out  the  first  articles  they  could  lay 
hands  upon.  Adela  alone  had  suffi- 
cient presence  of  mind  to  think  of 
the  small  amount  of  plate  and  other 
valuables,  while  Asenith  herself,  still 
possessed  with  the  ruling  passion  of 
her  life,  rushed  frantically  about  with 
bundles  of  roots  and  herbs,  which  she 
carried  to  the  door  and  threw  out, 
only  to  meet  destruction  from  the  in- 
satiable flames. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  whole  build- 
ing was  on  fire,  and  perceiving  the  ut- 
ter uselessness  and  extreme  danger  of 
any  further  attempts  to  save  anything, 
Asenith  drew  back  as  she  was  about 
to  re-enter  to  save  some  bottles  of  eye- 
water which  had  been  made  from  the 
snow  of  March. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Adela,  "it  is 
too  late  to  save  it  now,"  and  turned 
aside  to  ask  the  captain  to  send  one 
of  the  men  to  her  father's  with  news 
of  the  disaster. 


' '  Certainly  I  will  do  so, "  returned 
he,  ' '  but  where  is  the  old  woman  ? " 

Adela  screamed  and  darted  for- 
ward— she  was  entering  the  burning 
room.  Remembering  only  the  dan- 
ger to  Asenith,  she  rushed  after  her 
into  the  fire  and  smoke.  She  felt  the 
flames  lick  her  dress  and  pour  their 
hot  breath  upon  her  face,  while  clouds 
of  smoke  enveloped  her.  It  was  an 
awful  moment !  She  could  not  see  al- 
though she  touched  Asenith,  and  ex- 
erting all  her  strength  clasped  her  in 
her  arms  and  rushed  through  the  fire 
again  into  the  open  air.  Some  one 
dashed  a  pail  of  water  upon  her  burn- 
ing dress  and  hurried  them  back,  while 
the  roof  fell  in  with  a  terrible  crash, 
sending  columns  of  smoke  and  sparks 
into  the  air,  into  the  very  room 
whence  she  had  escaped  but  a  mo- 
ment before. 

They  were  safe — that  was  all  she 
could  think  of;  while  poor  Asenith, 
stunned  by  the  calamity  that  had  be- 
fallen her,  looked  at  the  single  bottle 
of  eye-water  she  held  in  her  hand  and 
muttered  :  ' '  And  there  may  never  be 
snow  in  March  again  as  long  as  I 
live,  and  all  the  summer  yerbs  gone 
besides  !  " 

That  was  all  she  mourned  over, 
even  when  the  neighbors  came  and 
condoled  with  her,  and  bound  up  her 
burnt  hands  and  arms. 

' '  The  Lord  does  all  for  the  best, " 
she  murmured.  "  He  has  not  bereft 
me  in  my  old  age  without  some  good 
purpose  ;  yet  I  had  hoped  to  die  in 
the  place  where  I  was  born,  where 
he  died,  and  my  father  and  mother. 
But  the  Lord's  will,  not  mine,  be 
done. " 

Thus  spoke  the  poor  old  woman 
who,  without  one  relation  in  the 


In  Bonds. 


189 


world  to  offer  her  a  refuge,  had  sud- 
denly been  bereft  of  her  home  and  all 
her  substance,  save  a  few  worthless 
acres. 

Adela  wept  more  for  that  than  for 
the  pain  of  her  scorched  hands  and 
arms,  and  for  the  beautiful  hair, 
scorched  even  from  her  very  temples. 
When  her  father  came  she  distracted 
his  attention  from  herself  to  the  poor 
old  Quakeress,  who  was  lifted  into 
the  carriage  and  taken  to  Holmsford, 
which  was  thenceforward  her  home. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

"  We  thought  her  dying  when  she  slept, 
And  sleeping  when  she  died." 

Hood. 

WITHOUT  sadness  or  repining  Ase- 
nith  Bray  made  her  home  at  Holms- 
ford.  Seldom  even  speaking  of  her 
old  home,  yielding  it  up  unmurmur- 
ingly  to  the  cause  she  loved.  Yet 
Miss  Holmes  and  La  Guerita  were 
not  deceived  ;  they  saw  that  her  life 
was  gradually  failing  beneath  the 
stroke,  and  both  with  a  feeling  very 
nearly  akin  to  remorse,  mourned 
over  the  disaster  they  had  indirectly 
brought  upon  her. 

But  she — meek  saint — did  not  live 
to  feel  it  long.  Her  soul  became 
more  and  more  lost  to  earth,  and  one 
day,  about  six  months  after  the  fire, 
she  fell  asleep  in  her  chair  at  the  fire- 
side —  and  her  awakening  was  in 
Heaven. 

She  died  with  but  one  wish  un- 
fulfilled. She  had  not  heard  of  the 
safety  of  Thornton  Leslie,  for  during 
all  that  time  not  one  word  had  reach- 
ed Adela  from  her  lover,  and  daily 
she  grew  more  anxious  and  despair- 
ing. 


At  times  the  suspense  she  endured 
became  almost  unsupportable.  Again 
and  again  she  pictured  Thornton  in 
the  hands  of  the  Confederates,  wear- 
ing his  life  away  in  some  foul  dun- 
geon. Often  would  she  start  from 
feverish  dreams,  in  which  she  had 
looked  upon  his  dead  face  through 
the  slimy  waters  of  some  shallow 
pool,  lying  ghastly  amid  the  clinging 
sods  of  the  pestilential  swamp.  But 
for  La  Guerita,  she  would  at  such 
times  have  given  herself  up  to  des- 
pair. But  she  whom  Adela  had 
once  comforted  and  protected,  be- 
came in  turn  the  giver  of  hope  and 
peace.  For  hope  and  peace  were 
hers. 

The  autumn  of  1862,  and  the 
spring  of  1863,  were  periods  of  great 
distress  throughout  the  South — not 
only  of  physical,  but  of  mental  dis- 
tress— that  which  is  of  all  the  most 
difficult  to  alleviate.  A  class  of 
people  were  then  created  which  had 
had  no  existence  before — conscripts, 
and  their  wretched  wives  and  children. 
Among  these,  La  Guerita  found  her 
true  work,  and  in  ceaseless  toil  and 
care  for  them,  had  no  time  for  vain 
repinings  at  her  own  sad  lot,  and  at 
last  learnt  to  say  in  faith  and  humble- 
ness of  heart  :  ' '  It  is  good  for  me  to 
be  here." 

It  was  strange  how  tranquilly  the 
long  winter  months  passed  to  her. 
She  thought  it  so,  when  some  cessa- 
tion from  her  daily  toil  gave  her  time 
to  overlook  the  past.  She  had  never 
hoped  for  peace,  yet  she  had  found  it 
— even  in  bonds,  even  far  from  the 
friends  and  the  home  of  her  youth. 
She  shuddered  sometimes  when  she 
thought  that  the  death  of  Claude  Lev- 
eredge  had  brought  this  peace ;  yet 


190 


In  Bonds. 


in  the  depth  of  her  soul  she  knew 
that  his  persecution,  and  all  her  long 
experience  of  woe  had  bowed  down 
her  rebellious  soul  to  the  very  feet  of 
Christ,  and  in  the  peace  she  there 
had  found,  she  could  exclaim  :  ' '  Thy 
chastening  has  been  my  salvation, 
O,  Lord." 

She  was  sitting  in  the  little  sewing- 
room  one  morning  in  March,  en- 
gaged upon  some  trifle  for  Minna, 
when  Miss  Holmes  entered,  and 
throwing  herself  into  a  rocking  chair, 
looked  at  La  Guerita  for  a  moment, 
and  exclaimed  impatiently  : 

"  How  can  you  bear  your  life  so 
patiently,  Rita,  when  mine,  which  is 
so  much  brighter,  seems  almost  in- 
supportable to  me?  Do  you  care 
for  your  friends  ;  do  you  think  of 
your  brother  who  was  so  cruelly 
wounded  but  a  few  months  since? 
If  so,  how  can  you  do  your  duty  day 
by  day  so  cheerfully,  while  I  am  so 
torn  by  the  agonies  of  suspense,  that 
I  can  neither  clearly  think,  nor  act 
like  a  reasonable  being  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  nothing  very  unrea- 
sonable about  you, "  replied  La  Gue- 
rita, smiling.  "This  is  your  first 
trial,  Miss  Adela  ;  suffering  has  not 
given  you  patience,  'and  hourly  I 
pray  it  never  may.  Miss  Adela,  can 
you  not  have  faith  to  believe  that  He 
who  preserved  Thornton  from  one 
great  danger,  will  also  deliver  him 
from  others  ?  Can  you  not  even  con- 
template the  worst  that  may  befall, 
andsay  :  '  Thy  will  be  done/  " 

"No,"  cried  Miss  Holmes,  des- 
perately, ' '  and  now  for  the  first  time 
I  can  comprehend  the  spirit  with 
which  you  regarded  your  husband's 
death.  Not  that  in  any  event  I 
could  deny,  or  curse  my  God,  but 


that  I  could  not  bow  calmly  to  all  His 
decrees.  Have  you  even  now  faith 
to  do  so  ?  " 

"Yes,"  returned  La  Guerita,  in  a 
low  voice.  ' '  So  great  has  been  the 
goodness  of  the  Lord  toward  me  that 
I  can  endure,  though  doubtless  with 
pain  yet  still  with  fortitude,  all  sor- 
rows that  it  may  please  Him  to  send, 
feeling  assured  that  I  shall  some  time 
be  free  from  them  and  from  these 
bonds.  Free  in  spirit,  if  not  in  body. 
Sometimes  I  feel  that  my  probation 
will  be  short,  Miss  Adela. " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  cried  Miss 
Holmes,  in  alarm.  "Are  you  ill, 
La  Guerita  ?  Have  you  been  suffer- 
ing in  silence,  while  I  have  been  ac- 
cusing you  of  insensibility  ?  " 

' '  Oh,  no, "  she  answered  quick- 
ly, "but  still  I  feel  that  this  long 
season  of  tranquility  has  been  given 
me  in  which  to  prepare  for  some 
great  change.  God  knows,  it  may 
be  for  the  joys  of  heaven,  or  the  bit- 
terest trials  of  earth. " 

"  You  have  strange  thoughts, 
sometimes,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
thoughtfully  ;  "it  seems  often  as  if 
you  obtained  dim  glimpses  into  fu- 
turity. You  speak  as  an  oracle  ; 
how  can  you  ?  " 

"  Aunt  Dilsey  says  because  it  is  of 
the  old  '  Eboe'  blood  in  me, "  she  re- 
turned, smiling  :  "  I  have  even  myself 
been  led  to  believe  that  negroes  have 
some  peculiar  power  of  divination. " 

Miss  Holmes  looked  up  in  amaze- 
ment ;  it  was  the  first  time  she  had 
ever  heard  La  Guerita  own  her  con- 
nection with  the  slaves,  not  only  of 
condition  but  of  blood,  and  it  seem- 
ed to  her  that  by  that  simple  avowal, 
she  had  raised  them  nearer  the  level 
of  other  men. 


In  Bonds. 


191 


She  sat  for  some  time  musing  in 
silence. 

"  I  wish  I  could  imitate  your 
courage  and  resignation, "  she  said, 
at  last ;  "I  think  I  could  have  both 
faith  and  patience  if  I  could  only 
hear  that  Thornton  lives.'" 

She  bent  her  head  upon  her  hand 
to  hide  the  tears  that  gathered  in  her 
eyes.  La  Guerita  saw  them  trickle 
slowly  through  her  fingers,  and  was 
about  to  speak  some  word  of  sym- 
pathy, when  Roxy  came  in  to  an- 
nounce Captain  Russell. 

It  was  long  since  Adela  had  seen 
any  of  her  old  friends,  and  she  hast- 
ened to  the  parlor,  and  welcomed 
Captain  Russell  with  unfeigned  pleas- 
ure. She  cordially  offered  him  her 
hand,  and  drew  back  in  surprise 
when  it  was  touched  lightly,  almost 
coldly,  by  her  former  playmate  and 
lover. 

The  conversation  that  ensued  was 
constrained  on  both  sides.  Captain 
Russell  inquired  for  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holmes,  and  Adela  replied  that  they 
had  driven  into  Foustville.  He  ex- 
pressed regret  at  their  absence,  say- 
ing that  as  his  furlough  was  but  for  a 
week  he  would  be  forced  to  return  to 
Richmond  on  the  morrow. 

"I  am  very  sorry,"  said  Miss 
Holmes,  earnestly,  "  papa  would  so 
much  like  to  see  you,  and  have  your 
opinion  of  war  matters.  Do  you 
really  think  that  there  is  any  truth  in 
the  report  that  General  Lee  contem- 
plates an  invasion  of  the  North  ?  " 

"  I  think  time  will  prove  that  there 
is  more  faith  to  be  placed  in  that  than 
in  most  other  newspaper  reports, 
Miss  Adela,"  he  replied;  "I  pray 
heaven  that  there  may  be.  I  for  one 
am  anxious  for  the  Yankees  to  feel, 


as  we  have  done,  the  stern  realities  of 
this  war,  and  to  know  what  it  is  to 
have  an  enemy  upon  their  very  hearth- 
stones. But  I  beg  your  pardon,  Miss 
Adela,  I  forgot  for  a  moment  that 
you  had  no  sympathy  with  such  feel- 
ings." 

There  was  an  awkward  silence 
then,  which  was  broken  at  last  by  an 
exclamation  from  Miss  Holmes  who 
for  the  first  time  had  noticed  a  deep 
scar  upon  Captain  Russell's  left  tern- 
pie. 

"How  did  you  get  it?"  she  in- 
voluntarily exclaimed. 

He  smiled  quietly,  saying:  "I 
have  been  waiting  for  you  to  ask, 
Miss  Adela,  for  I  thought  that  you 
would  be  interested  in  knowing  that 
that  was  dealt  by  the  hand  of  Thorn- 
ton Leslie." 

Surprise  for  a  moment  held  her 
speechless.  She  sank  back  in  her 
chair,  pale  and  breathless.  Captain 
Russell  noticed  her  agitation  with  a 
smile,  and  sought  to  relieve  it  by 
adding  : 

1 '  I  saw  Leslie  about  three  weeks 
ago,  for  the  first  time  since  his  escape 
from  the  cars.  That  really  was  clev- 
erly managed..  We  met  in  a  skir- 
mish, and  I  received  this  wound." 

"And  Thornton  ?  "  gasped  Adela. 

' '  Recognized  me,  and  rode  away 
unhurt. " 

"Thank  God!" 

"Good-by,"  said  Captain  Rus- 
sell, rising  and  extending  his  hand  ; 
"Good-by,  Adela,  and -though  from 
my  very  heart  I  condemn  the  opin- 
ions you  hold,  I  honor  the  devotion 
you  have  exhibited  for  your  lover, 
and  am  happy  to  be  able  to  give  you 
the  assurance  of  his  safe  escape  from 
the  Confederacv. " 


I92 


In  Bonds. 


The  blood  rushed  into  Adela's 
cheeks  at  his  words.  This  Captain 
Russell,  then,  whom  she  had  shrank 
from  intrusting  with  her  secret,  knew 
it  all,  and  believed  her  a  traitress. 
For  a  moment  her  heart  quailed  with 
fear,  then  calming  herself,  she  said  : 

' '  I  shall  never  forget  your  kind- 
ness, Captain  Russell,  but  I  was  not 
aware  that  you"- 

"  Knew  how  Major  Leslie  made 
his  escape,"  he  interrupted.  "  Shall 
I  tell  you  how  I  learned  it  ?  I  met 

a  woman  in  the  streets  of  M , 

well  disguised,  but  whom  I  thought 
I  knew  ;  I  passed  her  by,  uncertain 
as  to  her  identity.  I  saw  her  son 
an  hour  later,  and  could  doubt  no 
longer.  That  woman — La  Guerita 
DeCuba — had  been  to  the  depot 
where  the  prisoners  were  confined, 
and  was  hastening  to  you  to  give  you 
news  of  your  lover  and  her  friend.  I 
felt  convinced  of  that  in  my  own 
mind,  and  that  Major  Leslie  would 
strive  to  escape  that  night.  I  felt  it 
to  be  my  duty  if  possible  to  prevent 
it,  and  going  to  the  officer  in  charge 
—I  was  myself  but  a  passenger  in 
the  train — told  him  that  there  were 
a  desperate  set  of  men  in  Leslie's 
car,  and  advised  him  to  put  a  double 
guard  upon  them." 

"Ah,  then,  it  was  by  your  ad- 
vice they  were  so  closely  watched," 
cried  Miss  Holmes,  energetically; 
pausing  as  she  recollected  that  by 
those  words  she  had  implicated  her- 
self openly  in  the  matter. 

"  I  did  what  I  considered  right, " 
said  Russell,  firmly  ;  "  I  did  all  that 
I  could  to  prevent  the  escape  of  even 
a  single  person,  while  the  govern- 
ment thought  fit  to  retain  them.  I 
am  not  the  man,  from  a  sentimental 


feeling  of  friendship  or  party,  to  place 
a  sword  in  an  enemy's  hand  that  he 
may  strike  at  me  or  my  friends. " 

Adela  cast  down  her  eyes,  blushing 
violently  at  those  words  for  she  knew 
that  they  were  uttered  to  rebuke  her. 

"Then  it  was  by  your  advice  that 
so  strict  a  search  was  made  through- 
out this  country  ?  "  she  faltered. 

"It  was,"  he  returned.  "I  tell 
you  plainly  that  I  desired  the  capture 
of  Leslie  and  his  friends.  But,"  he 
added,  in  a  low  voice,  "I  could  not 
bear  that  your  name  should  be  men- 
tioned in  so  disgraceful  an  affair." 

"  It  was  not  disgraceful,"  retorted 
Miss  Holmes,  with  a  flash  of  the 
temper  for  which  she  had  once  been 
noted.  "  Remember,  Captain  Rus- 
sell, that  we  have  both  honestly  adopt- 
ed different  opinions  of  this  sad  af- 
fair ;  but  even  if  I  thought  as  you  do, 
I  should  still  have  considered  it  my 
duty  to  have  saved  one  whom  I  had 
once  loved  from  such  a  loathsome 
den  as  a  Confederate  prison.  They 
are  a  disgrace  to  humanity,  and  when 
this  war  is  ended,  their  record  will 
be  too  horrible  for  even  friends  to 
read  without  a  shudder.  How,  then, 
can  you  call  it  disgraceful  for  me  to 
have  risked  my  honor — yes,  almost 
my  life,  to  have  saved  from  them  my 
betrothed  husband  ?  " 

He  winced  at  the  word.  "I  beg 
your  pardon, "  he  said,  ' '  I  was  look- 
ing at  the  case  only  from  my  own 
point  of  view.  Believe  me,  much  as 
I  regret  the  stand  you  have  taken, 
and  the  part  you  have  acted,  I  ad- 
mire— nay,  reverence — the  courage 
which  has  enabled  you  to  do  both. " 

Adela  mused  for  some  minutes. 

"Captain  Russell,"  she  said  at 
last,  "you  have  given  me  much  to 


In  Bonds. 


193 


thank  you  for,  in  so  faithfully  keep- 
ing my  secret,  though  you  must  have 
had  many  temptations  to  betray  it 
Let  me  ask  you  if  I — if  Thornton — 
has  not  also  more  to  thank  you  for. 
Did  you  not  send  me  word  that  Ase- 
nith's  house  would  be  searched  ?" 

' '  It  was  only  done  to  save  you  and 
Asenith, "  he  returned,  bluntly  :  "I 
did  not  choose  that  the  name  of  Ade- 
la  Holmes  should  become  a  by-word 
through  the  country  round.  I  made 
sure  they  would  catch  Leslie  on  the 
Foustville  road,  and  gave  them  a  hint 
that  conscripts  and  deserters  generally 
took  that  route.  Of  course  you  know 
how  he  escaped  them  there  ?  I  had 
no  idea  that  he  could  do  so. " 

' '  You  say  them ;  did  you  not 
yourself  join  in  the  search  ?  " 

' '  My  dear  Miss  Holmes, "  he  cried, 
indignantly,  ' '  I  am  an  officer  of  the 
regular  army.  I  have  nothing  to  do 
with  conscripts  and  escaped  soldiers. 
I  happened  to  be  able  to  send  you 
that  item  of  information  because 
Captain  Owen  of  the  detailed  force, 
told  me  that  day,  as  I  was  passing 
through  E on  my  way  to  Char- 
lotte, that  there  was  a  great  hunt  in 
perspective  that  night,  and  among 
other  places  they  should  make  a 
clean  sweep  of  Asenith  Bray's  house, 
so  I  immediately  dispatched  my  serv- 
ant to  give  you  warning. " 

' '  And  you  cannot  refuse  my  thanks 
for  the  valuable  information,"  cried 
Adela,  warmly ;  ' '  but  for  that  Thorn- 
ton would  never  have  escaped. " 

"I  thought  he  would  certainly 
have  been  captured  on  the  Foustville 
road,"  observed  Russell,  regretfully. 

Miss  Holmes  laughed  merrily. 

"  Pray  don't  allow  such  a  good  act 
to  weigh  upon  your  conscience,"  she 
25 


said,  gaily ;  ' '  let  my  thanks  for  your 
tender  consideration  of  me  soften 
your  self-reproach  for  the  escape  of 
Thornton,"  adding,  gravely,  as  she 
remembered  their  late  encounter : 
"Believe  me,  Captain  Russell,  had 
he  but  known  your  kindness,  he 
would  not  have  i^ored  it  so  cru- 
elly." 

' '  Oh,  this  scar  !  "  exclaimed  Rus- 
sell, touching  it  lightly  with  his  fore- 
finger. ' '  Do  not  imagine,  Miss  Ade- 
la, that  I  regret  his  escape  on  that  ac- 
count. He  could  not  have  acted 
more  magnanimously  than  he  did 
the  moment  he  recognized  me.  He 
turned  to  another  point  of  the  field, 
and  permitted  me  to  regain  my 
sword,  allowing  me  at  once  to  retain 
my  liberty  and  honor. " 

' '  Then,  surely,  you  can  feel  no 
further  reproach  concerning  his  es- 
cape, "  said  Adela  ;  "  for,  after  all,  a 
life  for  a  life  has  been  given.  I  think 
'prisoner  for  prisoner'  synonymous 
with  that,  you  know." 

' '  I  know  you  had  always  a  horror 
of  bonds  of  any  kind, "  replied  Cap- 
tain Russell,  smiling;  "I  believe 
the  only  arguments  I  ever  had  with 
you  were  upon  the  subject  of  slavery. 
Let  me  tell  you  now,  that  I  do  see 
some  evil  in  it ;  it  is  wrong  in  the 
case  of  La  Guerita  DeCuba,  for  in- 
stance. I  have  felt  that  ever  since 
the  meeting  at  Foustville  ;  that  was  a 
terrible  scene,  and  thousands  of  times 
have  I  reproached  myself  for  not  in- 
forming her  friends  of  her  wherea- 
bouts when  it  was  in  my  power  to  do 
so." 

Why  did  you  not  ? "  asked  Miss 
Holmes,  abruptly. 

The  young  man  flushed  to  the 
temples,  and  looked  at  her  nervous- 


194 


In  Bonds. 


\y.  She  felt  her  cheeks  burn,  and 
could  have  bitten  her  tongue  for  its 
hasty  speech. 

'  *  I  will  tell  you, "  he  said,  in  a  low 
yet  steady  voice  ;  ' '  you  know,  Adela, 
that  I  loved  you.  Knowing  what  I 
do,  it  would  be  an  insult  to  say  with 
what  feelings  I  regard  you  now.  I 
had  heard  that  a  gentleman  at  the 
North  had  proposed  to  you,  and  that 
Claude  Leveredge  had  broken  off  the 
match — that  you  had  suffered  him  to 
do  so.  I  was  unconscious  then  of 
the  great  influence  held  by  Claude 
over  your  father  ;  or  that  you  had 
yielded  only  from  a  sense  of  duty. 
Can  you  wonder,  then,  that  I  imag- 
ined your  cousin  Claude  to  be  my 
rival  ?  I  saw  when  La  Guerita  came 
that  you  were  jealous,  and  fearful  of 
her — I  beg  your  pardon,  I  will  say 
no  more. " 

' '  Yes,  yes ;  go  on, "  said  Miss 
Holmes,  ashamed  of  the  flush  of  an- 
ger his  words  had  called  to  her  cheek. 

' '  I  am  ashamed  to  say, "  continued 
Russell,  after  a  slight  pause,  ' '  that  I 
kept  La  Guerita's  secret  because  I 
knew  how  Claude  had  loved  her, 
and  reckoned  upon  the  effect  the 
sight  of  her  would  have  upon  him. 
I  even  wrote  some  letters,  addressing 
him,  in  a  friendly  spirit,  to  return 
home  and  defend  his  interests  dur- 
ing the  coming  war,  not  daring,  how- 
ever, to  compromise  myself  by  nam- 
ing La  Guerita  DeCuba.  Well,  well, 
I  was  justly  punished  at  last  by  find- 
ing all  my  plotting  vain.  Claude 
Leveredge  himself  told  me  who  my 
rival  really  was.  Forgive  me,  Adela, 
for  though  I  loved  you  above  all 
treasure,  I  could  have  resigned  you 
almost  contentedly  to  so  good  a  man 
as  Thornton  Leslie. " 


' '  Who  would  have  supposed  that 
you  could  have  concocted  a  plot, 
even  so  slender  as  that  ?  "  exclaimed 
Miss  Holmes,  extending  her  hand. 
' '  Indeed,  my  friend,  I  forgive  you, 
and  thank  you  from  my  heart  for  the 
reparation  you  have  made. " 

He  was  deeply  touched. 

' '  Thank  you — thank  you  !  "  he 
murmured;  "I  can  think  of  the 
matter  with  a  lighter  heart  now  ;  es- 
pecially as  I  suppose  La  Guerita's 
secret  is  one  no  longer.  Yes  ;  I  can 
even  think  with  some  satisfaction  of 
the  part  I  took  in  Leslie's  escape,  in 
the  consideration  of  the  good  news 
he  has  undoubtedly  taken  to  her 
friends. " 

Miss  Holmes  found  it  painful,  and 
difficult  to  explain,  that  the  secret  was 
a  secret  still,  and  yet  more  painful  to 
hear  his  exclamations  of  surprise  and 
sorrow. 

' '  I  assure  you  you  have  done  wrong 
— very  wrong — "  he  began,  when  the 
door  was  thrown  open,  and  Mrs. 
Holmes  entered.  She  shocks  hands 
with  him,  and  commented  volubly 
upon  his  improved  appearance. 

' '  And  that  scar  makes  you  look 
quite  warlike, "  she  said  ;  "I  called 
at  your  mother's  on  my  way  home, 
and  she  told  me  your  furlough  was 
so  short  that  your  calls  upon  your 
friends  would  necessarily  be  so  also. 
Therefore  I  had  no  idea  I  should 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you 
here ;  but  I  am.  delighted,  and  so  is 
Addie,  I  am  sure, "and  Mrs.  Holmes 
looked  from  one  to  the  other,  enjoy- 
ing the  slight  confusion  into  which 
her  abrupt  entrance  had  thrown 
them  ;  for,  like  most  idle  women, 
Mrs.  Holmes  was  a  match-maker, 
and  had  not  yet  given  up  her  favorite 


In  Bonds. 


project  of  seeing  her  daughter  Adela 
Mrs.  William  Russell. 

The  young  man  stayed  but  a  short 
time  after  her  arrival,  much  to  her 
chagrin.  After  bidding  farewell  to 
the  other  members  of  'the  family,  he 
walked  through  the  garden  with  Mr. 
Holmes,  saying,  as  he  mounted  his 
horse  at  the  gate  : 

' '  I  had  some  conversation  with 
your  son  Rufe,  while  waiting  in  the 
parlor  for  Miss  Adela.  What  a  young 
fire-eater  he  is,  and  a  strapping  fellow, 
too.  If  you  are  not  careful  he  will  be 
in  the  army  before  another  month. " 

"Pooh  !  nonsense  !  "  laughed  Mr. 
Holmes;  "he  is  not  out  of  the 
school-room  yet ;  though  he  ought 
to  have  been,  and  at  Chapel  Hill 
long  ago.  The  idea  of  his  going 
into  the  army ;  why  he  is  a  mere 
child  still." 

' '  But  well  able  to  carry  a  musket, " 
rejoined  Russell ;  ' '  and  I  can  see  he 
has  been  brooding  over  his  cousin's 
death,  and  all  sorts  of  romantic  sto- 
ries, until  they  have  driven  him  wild. 
He  is  puffed  up  with  the  idea  of  be- 
coming a  hero,  and,  of  course,  will 
rush  to  the  army.  Still,  my  proph- 
ecy may  prove  false  ;  I  hope  it  will. 
Good-by !  " 

But  to  the  amazement  and  distress 
of  the  whole  family,  in  less  than  two 
weeks  Captain  Russell's  words  were 
verified.  Rufus  Holmes  left  his  home 
and  enlisted. 

Upon  first  hearing  of  it,  his  father 
was  overwhelmed  with  anger  and 
grief,  and  hastened  to  take  the  neces- 
a.ry  measures  for  withdrawing  him 
from  the  army  ;  but  at  last,  yielding 
to  the  popular  feeling  and  the  entrea- 
ties of  the  boy,  he  withdrew  his  ob- 
jections, and,  in  spite  of  all  the  argu- 


ments and  prayers  of  his  sister,  he 
was  allowed  to  proceed  to  the  camp 
of  instruction ;  whence,  in  a  few 
weeks,  he  passed  into  the  ranks. 
Even  Mrs.  Holmes,  who  had  at  first 
appeared  half  wild  with  grief  at  the 
departure  of  her  child,  soon  felt  posi- 
tive relief  in  his  absence,  saying  it 
was  the  only  peaceful  time  she  had 
known  since  his  birth  ;  and  flattered 
by  the  representations  made  by  ad- 
miring friends,  of  the  valor  and  pa- 
triotism of  the  boy,  meekly  replied 
to  all  Adela's  remonstrances  : 

' '  Well,  well,  my  child,  I  suppose 
it  is  our  duty  to  allow  him  to  go. " 

"Duty!  duty!"  thought  Adela, 
sadly  ;  "If  he  should  be  killed,  or 
come  home  ruined  in  health  or  prin- 
ciples, I  wonder  if  that  thought  will 
comfort  her,  wrhen  she  shudders  over 
his  wasted  life  !  " 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

"  Why  the  sepulchre 
Wherein  we  saw  thee  quietly  inurn'd, 
Hath  ope'd  its  ponderous  and  marble  jaws 

To  cast  thec  up  again." 

Shakespeare. 

EARLY  in  April  Miss  Holmes  left 
home  on  a  visit  to  some  relations  in 
Charleston.  La  Guerita  gladly  saw 
her  depart,  though  she  felt  most 
deeply  their  separation.  Though  Miss 
Holmes  had  regained  part  of  her 
elasticity  of  spirit  after  Captain  Rus- 
sell's announcement  of  Thornton 
Leslie's  safety,  much  of  it  had  been 
almost  instantly  destroyed  by  the  way- 
ward conduct  of  her  brother.  The 
great  anxiety  she  felt  concerning  him, 
added  to  her  constant  sympathy  in 
the  miseries  of  those  around  her, 
preyed  seriously  upon  her  health, 
which  during  the  winter  had  not  been 


196 


In   Bonds. 


robust.  Although  she  prepared  for 
her  journey  languidly  she  could  not 
but  feel  that  it  was  her  duty  to  go, 
and  seek,  in  change  of  scene  and  air, 
her  wonted  strength. 

She  had  been  gone  two  weeks,  and 
La  Guerita  being  unable  to  find  suf- 
ficient employment  for  her  active 
mind  in  the  light  duties  of  the  school- 
room, which  now  seemed  mere  child's 
play  when  Rufus  had  gone,  or  in  the 
woes  of  the  few  conscripts  that  yet 
remained  in  the  woods,  and  besought 
her  advice  and  aid,  felt  most  deeply 
the  absence  of  her  friend.  She  seem- 
ed quite  lost  and  bewildered  without 
her,  so  used  had  they  been  to  consult 
together  in  any  occasions  of  per- 
plexity. 

"  I  suppose  it  must  be  my  '  Eboe ' 
spirit  longing  lor  its  superior,"  she 
said  to  herself  at  times,  smiling  bitter- 
ly. "Well,  whatever  may  be  the 
cause,  I  cannot  do  away  with  it.  Oh, 
that  she  would  come  back  ;  I  feel  so 
utterly  alone — so  miserable. " 

Such  had  been  her  thoughts  one 
afternoon,  when  she  entered  the  house 
and  found  Mrs.  Holmes  crying  over 
two  letters  she  had  received.  That 
did  not  alarm  her,  as  the  excitement 
of  war-time  had  increased  the  natural 
nervousness  of  Mrs.  Holmes  to  such 
an  extent  that  she  wept  at  everything, 
and  often  much  to  the  annoyance  of 
stronger-minded  people. 

"Just  listen,"  she  cried,  "what 
Rufus  says.  Did  ever  any  one  hear  of 
such  a  boy  ?  '  Every  one  prophesies 
a  brilliant  career  for  me,  and  I  feel  in 
my  heart  that  the  South  will  one  day 
tremble  with  pride,  and  the  North 
with  terror  of  my  name. ' " 

' '  A  noble  boy, "  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
proudly.     ' '  I  must  show  that  to  Gor- 


don ;  how  he  will  glory  in  the  lad's 
spirit.  But  you  have  a  letter  from 
Addie,  I  see.  What  does  she  say  ?" 

Mrs.  Holmes  opened  the  missive 
and  read  a  few  lines,  and  with  a 
slight  scream  of  surprise,  exclaimed  : 

' c  I  never  heard  of  such  a  child, 
Norton.  She  is  actually  coming 
home  in  a  few  days — will  leave  early 
in  the  week,  she  says.  Who  ever 
heard  of  such  a  thing  as  a  two  weeks' 
visit  to  Charleston  !  " 

' '  Well,  she  never  did  like  Charles- 
ton much,"  said  Mr.  Holmes,  se- 
cretly pleased  at  the  prospect  of  his 
daughter's  quick  return  ;  ' '  neither 
are  the  Charleston  Leveredges  favor- 
ites of  hers.  Addie  has  some  good 
reason  for  returning  so  soon,  you 
may  be  sure.  What  does  she  say 
about  it  ? " 

' '  What  does  Addie  ever  say  to  sat- 
isfy people  ?  "  returned  Mrs.  Holmes, 
impatiently.  ' '  She  merely  states  that 
she  is  coming  home,  and  with  her 
usual  kindness  leaves  us  to  guess  the 
reason. " 

"And  it  will  prove  a  sufficient  one, 
I'll  wager,"  said  Mr.  Holmes,  de- 
cidedly. 

' '  And  whatever  it  may  be, "  thought 
La  Guerita,  ' '  thank  God  she  is  com- 
ing. Thank  God  I  shall  not  be 
much  longer  alone. " 

Just  at  that  moment  a  great  noise 
arose  in  the  garden  beneath  ;  a  dozen 
negroes  were  crying  out  in  various 
tones  of  horror,  amazement,  and  de- 
light. La  Guerita  started  to  the  win- 
dow to  discover,  if  possible,  the  cause 
of  the  hubbub,  and  presently  above  it 
all  heard  a  voice  that  stayed  her  heart 
from  beating-r-the  voice  she  had  be- 
lieved silent  forever — the  voice  of 
Claude  Leveredge. 


In  Bonds. 


197 


In  a  moment  he  was  in  the  room, 
and  his  aunt  was  sobbing  out  her 
welcome  in  his  arms.  Mrs.  Holmes 
embraced  him  delightedly,  and  the 
children  half  smothered  him  with 
kisses.  Miss  Matilda,  meanwhile, 
stood  aloof,  with  a  most  dissatisfied 
expression  of  countenance,  for  al- 
though she  had  deplored  his  death 
most  sincerely,  she  could  not  recon- 
cile herself  to  this  unusual  proceeding 
of  a  dead  man  coming  to  life,  and  at 
last  gave  vent  to  her  injured  feelings 
by  exclaiming : 

' '  Well,  Claude,  this  is  just  like  you. 
Who  would  ever  have  dreamed  of 
your  coming  back  to  give  us  all  such 
a  shock.  For  my  part,  I  feel  as  if 
every  nerve  of  my  body  had  been 
taken  out,  a  pin  stuck  through  each, 
and  then  put  back  in  the  wrong 
place. 

Claude  laughed,  kissing  her  warm- 
ly, ' '  to  settle  her  nerves, "  he  said, 
and  to  assure  her  that  he  was  really 
flesh  and  blood ;  a  fact  which  she, 
like  the  negroes,  seemed  to  doubt. 

' '  Ah,  and  so  you  also  thought  me 
dead, "  he  continued,  intercepting  La 
Guerita  as  she  was  leaving  the  room. 
' '  How  exceedingly  pale  you  are. 
Have  you  been  ill  ?  " 

He  spoke  kindly,  yet  looked  pene- 
tratingly into  her  face. 

' '  I  have  been  very  well, "  she  an- 
swered, not  knowing  what  she  was 
saying. 

' '  Oh,  yes, "  Mrs.  Holmes  interpos- 
ed, much  to  La  Guerita 's  relief,  ' '  we 
have  all  been  very  well.  But  how 
dreadfully  pale  you  are  yourself, 
Claude. " 

t '  What  else,  could  be  expected  of 
a  resurrected  man  ?  "  asked  aunt  Ma- 
tilda, grimly. 


"And  no  wonder,"  he  replied, 
' '  for  I  have  been  sick  and  in  prison 
since  you  saw  me  last.  But  where 
are  Addie  and  Rufe?"  he  added, 
glancing  around  the  circle.  "  I^was 
in  hopes  that  all  the  family  would 
help  to  welcome  me. " 

"  Rufe  has  volunteered  !  "  cried  a 
chorus  of  voices. 

"What?"  cried  Claude,  looking 
at  the  group  with  an  expression  of 
blank  amazement 

' '  He  has  volunteered, "  explained 
Mrs.  Holmes, ' '  and  gone  like  a  brave, 
high-spirited  lad,  as  he  is,  to  fight  the 
base  invaders  of  our  soil. " 

"And  you  sanctioned  his  going?" 
asked  Leveredge,  reproachfully,  fix- 
ing his  eyes  keenly  upon  his  uncle. 

"Not  at  first.  But  I  could  not 
withstand  the  boy's  eloquence.  How 
could  I,  when  his  sole  desire  seemed 
to  be  to  revenge  your  death  ?  " 

' '  Then  recall  him  at  once,  I  beg 
of  you,"  said  Claude,  much  agitated. 
' '  You  see  I  am  not  dead,  but  am 
abundantly  able  to  revenge  for  my- 
self all  the  wrongs  I  have  suffered. 
But  we  can  speak  of  this  later ;  where 
is  Addie  ?  I  suppose  she  has  not  also 
volunteered. "  • 

"No,"  answered  Mrs.  Holmes, 
smiling,  ' '  she  is  visiting  the  Charles- 
ton Leveredges.  We  expected  her 
home  next  week,  but  I  will  telegraph 
her  to  come  immediately. " 

"Oh,  let  her  have  her  visit  out," 
said  Claude.  ' '  I  shall  not  be  ready 
for  service  for  a  month,  or  three 
weeks,  at  least.  I  want  her  to  come 
home  and  find  a  surprise  awaiting 
her." 

"Addie  isn't  fond  of  surprises," 
said  Miss  Matilda,  dryly,  "and  Rita 
is  not  either.  Where  did  you  get 


198 


In  Bonds. 


that  scar  on  your  face  ?  It  looks  as 
if  a  horse  had  kicked  you.  That's 
part  of  Claude's  honor,  I  suppose." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  laughed, 
and  Claude  looked  at  them  interro- 
gatively, wondering  to  what  the  words 
' '  Claude's  honor  "  had  reference. 

"  She  is  thinking  of  old  Mrs.  Clay- 
ton and  her  son  William, "  explained 
Mrs.  Holmes,  laughingly.  "You 
know  they  never  owned  a  negro  in 
their  lives,  and  when  some  one  re- 
marked so  to  the  old  lady,  asking  at 
the  same  time  what  her  son  was  going 
to  fight  for,  '  Why,  for  honor,  to  be 
sure/  answered  the  poor  old  soul  in- 
nocently, as  if  her  booby  Will,  would 
ever  get  honor  as  a  soldier,  or  any- 
thing else.  Well,  after  a  time  Will, 
was  wounded,  and  Mrs.  Clayton  ex- 
ultantly told  every  one  that  Will,  had 
got  honor  on  his  arm  ;  a  battle  after, 
it  was  in  his  leg,  and  about  a  month 
ago,  to  use  the  old  lady's  own  phrase, 
'  He  got  so  much  honor  all  over  him 
that  it  killed  him. ' " 

"  I  am  afraid  aunt  Matilda  has 
made  some  additions  to  the  original 
story,"  said  Claude,  laughing. 

"I  can  assure  you  not,''  replied 
Mrs.  Holmes,  earnestly,  ' '  but  now, 
dear  Claude,  tell  us  really  where  you 
got  your  honor. " 

"In  the  fourth  day's  battle  near 
Richmond, "  responded  Claude, ' '  and 
faith  quite  an  overpowering  honor  it 
proved  to  be.  I  was  left  on  the  field 
for  dead  ;  a  dozen  officers  have  sworn 
to  me  that  they  saw  me  draw  my  last 
breath,  and  when  I  came  to  myself 
I  found  that  I  was  in  an  ambulance, 
and  on  my  way  to  an  hospital,  where 
I  remained  for  some  time  an  invol- 
untary guest  of  Uncle  Sam.  After 
that  I  was  sent  to  Fort ,  from 


whence  I  was  exchanged  about  a 
week  ago.  There  is  my  history  in  a 
nutshell. " 

' '  But  you  have  been  very  ill> 
Claude, "  said  his  aunt,  anxiously. 

' '  I  have  indeed, "  he  answered, 
gravely.  ' '  Had  I  not  received  the 
best  of  care  your  mourning  garments 
would  not  have  been  worn  without 
cause. " 

Mrs.  Holmes  burst  into  tears  and 
left  the  room,  returning  an  hour  later 
in  colored  apparel. 

La  Guerita  caught  a  glimpse  of  her 
figure  during  the  afternoon,  and 
straightway  began  to  reproach  herself 
most  bitterly  that  while  every  one  else 
upon  the  plantation,  from  the  eldest 
to  the  youngest,  was  putting  on  the 
robes  and  feelings  of  joy,  she  alone 
remained  unable  even  to  feign  the 
semblance  of  pleasure.  Never  had 
she  felt  more  utterly  miserable  or 
more  forsaken.  Her  enemy  had 
come,  as  from  the  grave,  to  torment 
her,  and  there  was  not  one  to  whom 
she  could  go  for  comfort  or  protec- 
tion. For  the  first  time  in  months 
the  realization  that  she  was  a  slave 
came  home  to  her,  and  it  was  with 
the  deepest  shame  and  the  most  bit- 
ter self-reproaches  that  she  reflected 
that  the  resurrection  of  Claude  Lev- 
eredge  had  brought  it  to  her. 

"It  is  just,"  she  said,  at  length. 
"The  Lord  is  punishing  me  as  I  de- 
serve, for  I  found  peace  at  the  thought 
of  my  enemy's  death,  and  in  my  heart 
of  hearts  I  found  pleasure  in  it. " 

Fain  would  she  have  written  to 
Miss  Holmes,  had  she  but  dared, 
urging  her  immediate  return.  Five 
days  seemed  to  be  an  interminable 
time  to  be  alone.  Never  dragged 
hours  so  drearily  by,  yet  often  she 


In  Bonds. 


199 


could  but  smile  at  her  disquietude. 
Her  faith  in  God  was  too  strong  for 
fear  of  mortal  to  shake  it.  No,  she 
knew  well  through  all  these  days  that 
it  was  not  fear  that  agitated  her,  and 
caused  her  to  tremble  like  an  aspen 
leaf  at  the  sight  of  Claude  Leveredge. 
It  was  that  old  feeling  of  shame  that 
had  maddened  her  twice,  and  which 
had  slumbered  so  peacefully  for  the 
few  months  of  repose  that  had  follow- 
ed her  adventures  in  Thornton  Les- 
lie's behalf.  She  realized  that  fully 
on  the  third  day  after  Claude  Lever- 
edge's  return,  when  he  walked  into 
her  school-room,  and  glancing  keenly 
at  her,  asked  abruptly  : 

"What  did  you  think  when  you 
heard  I  was  dead  ? " 

4-lfred  and  Minna  were  present, 
and,  in  great  confusion,  La  Guerita 
stammered  : 

' '  We  were  all  greatly  shocked,  of 
course,  Mr.  Leveredge." 

' f  I  am  dreadfully  tired, "  he  said  ; 
' '  Alfred,  I  wish  you  would  go  in  the 
house  and  get  me  a  cigar.  You  will 
find  one  on  the  study  mantel-piece. " 

Alfred  was  off  in  an  instant. 

' '  Oh,  I  forgot, "  said  Leveredge, 
looking  at  Minna,  ' '  'twas  the  parlor 
mantel  I  meant.  Run  and  tell  him 
so." 

She  quickly  obeyed.  Claude  Lev- 
eredge looked  up  at  La  Guerita,  as 
she  stood  calmly  at  some  distance 
from  him.  He  advanced  a  step,  the 
blood  rushing  over  his  pale,  olive 
face  as  he  whispered  : 

' '  I  could  not  die,  La  Guerita  ; 
the  thought  of  you  won  me  back  to 
life.  What  welcome  have  you  for 
me  ? " 

He  held  out  his  hand,  and  looked 
at  her  as  if  he  would  read  her  verv 


soul.  He  saw  she  was  afflicted,  but 
it  was  only  -for  a  moment.  She  waved 
aside  his  proffered  hand,  and  turned 
away.  He  looked  at  her  with  the 
longing  and  ferocity  of  a  baffled 
tiger,  muttering  a  few  words  between 
his  clenched  teeth,  which  gave  La 
Guerita  to  know  that  the  vows  made 
years  before  were-  not  forgotten. 

She  knew  then  that  any  slight  hope 
she  had  entertained  of  a  change  in 
his  feelings  toward  her,  was  futile. 
His  long  illness  had  not  made  him  a 
better  man,  and  his  incarceration  had 
given  him  time  to  think  over  the  dif- 
ficulties of  the  chase  he  had  in  the 
excitement  of  war  apparently  aban- 
doned. She  saw  that  his  long  ab- 
sence had  but  given  her  vantage 
ground,  but  had  served  also  to  height- 
en and  intensify  the  ardor  of  her  pur- 
suer. 

These  thoughts  flashed  upon  her 
mind  in  an  instant,  leaving  their  im- 
press on  her  face.  Determination  to 
resist  to  the  death,  Claude  Leveredge 
read  in  her  flashing  eyes  and  com- 
pressed mouth.  Determination  to 
strive  till  death,  she  read  in  his.  They 
understood  each  other  fully  then. 
He  knew  it,  and  turning  from  the 
house,  entered  the  garden,  mutter- 
ing : 

"  Fool  that  I  am.  Why  could  I 
not  have  feigned  indifference  for  a 
time  ?  That  might  have  accomplish- 
ed what  all  my  love  and  cruelty  have 
striven  to  do  in  vain.  How  is  it  that 
before  her,  I  cannot  hide  that  I  love 
her  ?  I  love  her  !  She  would  ques- 
tion that  if  she  knew  all  ;  but  'tis 
true.  What  am  I  thinking  of?  Hers 
is  the  love  I  want.  Good  God,  what 
love  she  could  give  me  if  she  would. 
How  I  would  glory  in  it  ;  how  I 


200 


In  Bonds. 


would  laugh  all  other  love  to  scorn. 
My  wife  !  By  *  Heavens,  she  was 
promised  to  me  years  ago,  and  mine 
she  shall  be.  What  do  I  care  if  she 
hates  me  with  a  power  strong  as 
death?  I  would  rather  have  her 
hate  than  the  undying  love  of  any 
other  wife.  Any  other  wife  !  What 
am  I  thinking  of;  I  believe  my  fever 
has  not  left  me.  Ah,  here  are  the 
children." 

"Swift  messengers,  you  are,"  he 
cried,  gaily,  as  they  approached  him. 
' '  You  see  I  had  got  tired  of  waiting 
for  you." 

"We  could  not  help  it,  cousin 
Claude, "  they  explained  eagerly ; 
' '  We  had  to  go  to  your  room  for 
cigars,  there  were  none  in  the  parlor 
or  study. " 

' '  All  right, "  said  Leveredge  ;  "go 
on  to  the  school  room,  and,  Minna, 
if  you  have  perfect  lessons  to-day, 
you  may  come  to  me  for  a  real  gold 
dollar  in  the  evening. " 

Minna  opened  her  eyes  very  wide, 
and  then  with  an  exclamation  of  de- 
light and  astonishment,  ran  off  to 
the  school-room,  followed  by  her 
brother. 

Mr.  Leveredge  lighted  one  of  the 
cigars  they  had  brought  him,  and 
strolled  on,  endeavoring  to  confine 
his  thoughts  to  the  same  channel  in 
which  they  had  flown  before,  but  the 
unpleasant  flavor  of  his  cigar,  entirely 
diverted  them,  he  threw  it  from  him 
with  an  exclamation  of  impatience, 
and  hearing  the  sound  of  high  voices 
in  a  distant  part  of  the  garden,  he 
strolled,  indolently,  in  the  direction 
from  which  they  came. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  discover- 
ed the  cause  of  the  unusual  hubbub. 
Miss  Matilda  was  soon  seen  advanc- 


ing toward  him,  holding  Harry  by 
the  ear,  and  followed  at  a  respectable 
distance  by  half-a-dozen  little  slaves, 
whose  wildly-rolling  eyes  and  signifi- 
cant howls,  declared  that  they  had 
been  engaged  in  some  mischief  for 
which  they  expected  condign  punish- 
ment. Harry  was  the  ringleader ; 
Claude  Leveredge  could  easily  have 
seen  that,  even  if  Miss  Matilda's 
voluble  expressions  of  indignation 
had  not  assured  him  of  it. 

"You  must  come  right  along  with 
me,"  exclaimed  the  irate  old  lady, 
"he'll  teach  you  how  to  make  forts, 
and  turn  his  cigars  into  guns.  Oh, 
you  dreadful  creature  ;  what  do  you 
expect  will  become  of  you  ?  Where 
do  you  think  you'll  go  to  when  you 
die  ?  Don't  you  speak  !  " 

The  poor  child  had  not  attempted 
to  utter  a  word. 

' '  Just  come  right  into  your  mas- 
ter, and  if  he  don't  order  you  whipped 
I'll  tie  you  up  by  the  heels  and  make 
you  pick  cotton  till  Christmas  ;  what 
do  you  think  of  that  ? " 

Mr.  Leveredge  laughed  heartily, 
asking  :  ' '  What  is  the  matter,  aunt 
Matilda  ?  What  has  the  boy  done  ?  " 

' '  Ask  me  what  he  has  not  done, " 
she  returned,  ' '  and  I  might  be  able 
to  tell  you — '  no  good/  for  lam  sure 
he  has  done  everything  else.  I  verily 
believe  he's  getting  up  a  revolution 
among  the  niggers  now.  Here,  you 
sir,  come  back  and  give  me  your 
ear, "  she  added  suddenly  as  Harold 
escaped  from  her  grasp  and  retreated 
a  few  paces. 

Involuntarily  he  covered  his  ears 
with  his  hands,  withdrawing  them, 
and  flushing  hotly  as  he  caught 
Claude's  eye  fixed  laughingly  upon 
him. 


In  Bonds. 


201 


' '  I  am  going  to  put  out  my  guns, " 
he  muttered,  turning  away. 

' '  Let  him  go, "  said  Claude,  as  he 
saw  Miss  Matilda  was  about  to  fol- 
low him  ;  "  you  take  care  of  the 
others,  I  will  take  care  of  him. " 

Miss  Matilda  did  as  she  was  wish- 
ed ;  not,  however,  to  please  Claude, 
but  because  she  saw  that  most  of  the 
offenders  were  looking  around  for 
chances  of  escape,  and  she  was  de- 
termined to  allow  them  none. 

Claude  Leveredge  followed  Harold 
out  of  the  garden,  and  a  short  dis- 
tance into  the  meadow,  where,  much 
to  his  surprise  and  amusement,  he 
discovered  the  fate  of  his  choice  ci- 
gars. They  were  actively  engaged 
in  bombarding  and  defending  the 
miniature  city  of  Vicksburg.  The 
city,  which  was  made  of  a  vast  num- 
ber of  wooden  buildings,  gaily  paint- 
ed churches,  and  tin  savings'  banks, 
the  combined  wealth  of  the  planta- 
tion children,  was  situated  upon  a 
high  bluff  of  the  meadow  brook.  It 
was  surrounded  by  walls  of  brick,  on 
which  were  planted  continually  ac- 
tive cannon  in  the  form  of  lighted  ci- 
gars. There  were  four  hide  boats  ly- 
ing in  the  stream  below,  also  mount- 
ed with  cannon,  which  presented  fire 
toward  the  city  or  the  spectators  on 
the  opposite  shore  with  perfect  im- 
partiality. Thin  spirals  of  smoke 
constantly  arose  from  both  the  city 
and  the  boats.,  almost  enveloping 
their  respective  flags. 

Claude  Leveredge  laughed  for  a 
few  moments  heartily. 

"You  are  a  pretty  fellow,"  he 
said  at  last;  "who  gave  you  per- 
mission to  use  my  cigars  in  this 
way  ? " 

' '  No  one,  sir, "  said  Harry,  flush- 
26 


ing  and  trembling;  "I  beg  your 
pardon,  sir,  the  fire  crackers  all  gave 
out,  and  I  didn't  know  what  else  to 
do." 

"You  have  been  using  crackers 
for  cannon  before,  then  ?  " 

' '  Yes,  sir,  and  they  did  beautiful 
for  Norfolk  and  Newbern,  and  all 
the  battles  around  Richmond  ;  only 
sometimes  they  would  fizzle,  and 
they  don't  make  such  a  big  smoke  as 
cigars. " 

' '  But  how  do  you  manage  the  re- 
port ?  "  asked  Claude,  laughing. 

"Why,  for  the  distant  ones,  sir, 
we  beat  a  little  drum,  and  for  the 
others  we  have  still  a  few  fire  crack- 
ers left.  I  am  very  sorry,  sir,  we 
didn't  use  them,  but  I  was  afraid  they 
would  give  out  before  the  fight  was 
over. " 

"But  what  in  the  world  could 
make  you  think  of  taking  my  cigars  ? 
Do  you  know  that  I  ought  to  whip 
you  for  it  ?  " 

' '  I  didn't  take  the  cigars,  sir. " 

"Who  did?" 

"I  shouldn't  like  to  tell,  sir.  Be- 
sides, it  was  I  that  was  to  blame  ;  I 
ought  to  have  sent  them  back,  but  he 
brought  one  to  me  lighted,  and  it 
just  seemed  as  if  I  couldn't  help  using 
the  others." 

'  *  So  you  won't  tell  me  who  did 
it  ?  Suppose  that  I  whip  you  then. " 

Harold  looked  at  him  defiantly, 
then  dropped  his  eyes.  Claude  Lev- 
eredge saw  him  working  his  hands 
together  nervously,  and  biting  his 
lips,  to  force  back  his  rising  tears  ; 
yet  though  again  asked,  he  would  not 
reveal  the  name  of  him  who  had 
brought  him  the  cigars. 

Something  arose  in  Claude  Lever- 
edge's  throat  and  choked  him,  as  he 


2O2 


In  Bonds. 


looked  upon  the  boy,  and  suddenly, 
with  a  strange  passionate  gesture,  he 
caught  him  to  his  heart  and  kissed 
him  again  and  again. 

Harold  released  himself  roughly 
from  this  unwelcome  embrace,  mut- 
tering angrily  : 

"  I'm  not  a  baby  !  " 

Claude  colored  to  the  temples,  an- 
noyed at  and  ashamed  of  his  sudden 
emotions. 

' '  I  know  you  are  not, "  he  said, 
but  I  knew  you  when  you  were  a 
baby.  I  even  knew  your  mother 
when  she  was. " 

Harold  looked  at  him  in  aston- 
ishment. 

' '  Put  out  these  smoldering  ci- 
gars/' said  Mr.  Leveredge,  pointing 
to  the  miniature  city  and  fleet,  and 
throwing  himself  indolently  upon 
the  grass.  ' '  I  am  not  angry  at  you, 
Harry." 

The  child  gathered  up  the  cigars 
silently,  and  tied  a  wisp  of  long  straw 
around  them,  often  glancing  furtively 
at  the  lounger  by  his  side. 

' '  Where  did  my  mother  live  when 
she  was  a  baby,  sir  ?  "  he  ventured  at 
last  to  inquire. 

Mr.  Leveredge  informed  him ;  and 
emboldened  by  his  kindness,  Harold 
asked  a  series  of  questions,  receiving 
satisfactory,  if  not  always  truthful  an- 
swers to  all.  So  they  talked  together 
a  long  time ;  and  it  in  some  way  hap- 
pened, that  in  that  single  afternoon, 
Claude  Leveredge  gained  a  power 
over  the  child  that  perfectly  obliter- 
ated all  his  former  dread  and  dis- 
like. 

La  Guerita  was  detained  in  the 
school-room  until  late  in  the  after- 
noon ;  when  she  went  to  her  cabin, 
she  found  Harold  sitting  on  the  steps 


with  his  face  resting  between  his 
hands.  She  sat  down  beside  him,, 
and  playfully  asked  why  he  was  so 
thoughtful  ? 

' '  I  was  thinking  of  Enola.  You 
know,  mamma,  you  took  me  away 
from  there  and  put  me  in  this  little 
cabin.  What  did  you  do  it  for ; 
when  I  am  so  rich,  and  have  such  a 
beautiful  home  of  my  own  ?  " 

She  was  so  totally  unprepared  for 
the  child's  questions,  that  each  seem- 
ed a  dagger  in  her  heart.  He  re- 
peated them,  looking  at  her  anxious- 
ly with  his  wistful  eyes,  and  unable 
to  bear  their  reproachful  glances,  she 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and 
burst  into  tears. 

' '  Oh,  mamma,  don't  cry  ;  please 
don't  cry, "  cried  Harold,  in  great  dis- 
tress ;  "don't  you  want  to  go  back, 
mamma  ?  I  thought  you  did  ;  and 
Mr.  Leveredge  says  he  will  take  us  if 
you  will  go.  Do  go,  mamma. " 

1 '  Then  Mr.  Leveredge  has  been 
talking  to  you  ? "  La  Guerita  raised 
her  head  and  looked  at  the  child 
steadily. 

"  Yes,  mamma,  he  has  told  me  all 
about  Enola,  and  he  wants  to  take  us 
there.  Let  us  go.  Mr.  Leveredge 
told  me  just  what  it  was  to  be  a  slave, 
and  I  can't  bear  to  be  what  he  says  I 
»am." 

' '  What  did  he  say  you  are  ?  But 
never  mind  ;  don't  think  of  it,  Har- 
old." 

"Yes,  I  shall  think  of  it,"  he  per- 
sisted ;  I  can't  help  thinking  of  it. 
Mr  Leveredge  says  I  ought  to  go  to 
Enola — that  I  should  be  a  master 
there,  and  I  am  a  slave  here. " 

"My  child!  my  child  !" 

1 '  Will  you  let  Mr.  Leveredge  take 
us  back,  mamma  ? " 


In  Bonds. 


203 


"No,  Harold." 

' '  Xot  to  Enola,  mamma  ? " 

It  was  hard  to  encounter  his  looks 
of  utter  incredulity,  but  still  she  an- 
swered, firmly  : 

"No,  Harold." 

"Then  I  don't  believe  you  love 
me,"  he  cried,  passionately  ;  "  I  am 
not  a  black  nigger,  and  I  won't  be  a 
slave.  Oh,  take  me  back  to  Enola  ; 
let  me  go  back  !  " 

So  it  had  come  at  last.  The  child 
she  had  despoiled  of  his  birthright 
had  arisen  and  demanded  it  of  her, 
and  though  her  very  heart  bled  for  it, 
she  could  but  answer  sternly,  and  bid 
him  be  silent.  Yet  hours  afterwards, 
she  paced  the  floor  of  her  room,  pray- 
ing for  power  to  give  her  child  his 
freedom,  and  for  strength  to  resist  the 
temptation  his  lips  held  out  to  her. 

' '  Am  I  ever  crying  to  God  for  help, 
and  yet  ever  putting  aside  the  hand 
he  stretches  forth  to  me,"  she  cried 
more  than  once.  "Claude  Lever- 
edge  loves  me ;  other  women  have 
married  a  second  time  and  been 
happy.  Happy,  I  could  never  be  ; 
but  should  I  be  right  ?  O,  God, 
should  I  be  right  ?  No,  no,  no ;  a 
thousand  times  No  !  My  very  soul 
revolts  from  such  a  union — angels 
seem  to  warn  me  from  it. " 

She  bent  over  her  sleeping  child 
in  anguish,  crying  : 

' '  Not  even  for  thee  can  I  do  that. 
I  will  sacrifice  my  \ery  life  for  thee, 
but  I  cannot  lose  my  soul. " 

A  hundred  times  during  the  three 
succeeding  days  did  she  find  it  neces- 
sary to  strengthen  her  resolution  by 
such  words  as  these.  It  was  hard  to 
utter  them  in  the  face  of  her  child's 
rapidly-increasing  intimacy  with  Lev- 
eredge,  and  his  growing  discontent 


with  his  lot.  It  seemed  to  her  that 
her  direct  punishment,  or  rather  trial, 
had  come.  She  could  not  look  up- 
on her  sorrows  45  punishment,  for 
she  remembered  she  had  not  sinned. 
From  the  hour  she  had  sternly  si- 
lenced Harold  in  his  entreaties  and 
demand  to  be  taken  home,  she  felt 
that  she  had  lost  the  child's  confi- 
dence, and  with  an  agony  that  can- 
not be  described,  saw  that  he  was 
rapidly  transferring  it  to  the  man 
whose  power  over  him  she  dreaded, 
not  only  as  affecting  his  physical,  but 
his  moral  weal. 

She  had,  herself,  neither  spoken  or 
encountered  Leveredge  since  his  visit 
to  the  school-room,  and  was  greatly 
in  hopes  that  she  would  not  do  so 
until  Miss  Holmes'  return,  which 
was  expected  to  take  place  on  Wed- 
nesday or  Thursday.  She  was  think- 
ing of  this  as  she  sat  in  her  cabin,  on 
the  evening  of  Monday,  patching  a 
hole  in  Harold's  coat,  and  often  glanc- 
ing at  him  anxiously,  as  he  lay  sleep- 
ing calmly  upon  the  bed,  when  Roxy 
entered  with  a  message  from  Mr. 
Holmes. 

' '  Dere  ain't  nobody  thar  but  Mas- 
sa,  and  Missus,  and  Massa  Claude," 
she  said,  in  answer  to  La  Guerita's 
inquiries,  ' '  an'  you  must  go  in  right 
away.  Massa  Claude  said  he  was 
mighty  dull,  and  I  'spect  he  wants 
you  to  play  de  panny. " 

"Oh,  I  hope  not,"  involuntarily 
exclaimed  La  Guerita,  for  she  had 
not  touched  the  piano  for  many 
months,  except  when  instructing 
Minna,  or  alone  with  Mrs.  Holmes  ; 
she,  however,  hastened  to  the  house, 
and  with  a  fast-beating  heart  entered 
the  parlor  she  would  as  gladly  have 
avoided. 


2O4 


In  Bonds. 


"Oh,  no,  Aunt  Myra,"  she  heard 
Leveredge  say  as  she  entered,  ' '  I 
don't  want  her  to  play  for  me.  Min- 
na gave  me  music^enough  this  after- 
noon to  last  any  reasonable  man  a 
month ;  and  very  well  she  plays, 
too, "  he  added,  looking  at  La  Gue- 
rita,  and  acknowledging  her  presence 
with  a  smile  ;  "far  better  than  her 
sister  does.  Who  would  ever  have 
dreamed  that  you  would  have  made 
such  a  successful  teacher  ?  Now, 
uncle,  we  are  ready  for  a  game  at 
whist ;  Rita  and  I  against  aunt  and 
yourself.  You  will  have  to  do  your 
best ;  for  I  remember  that  Rita  play- 
ed a  splendid  game  years  ago. " 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  looked  at 
each  other,  and  at  La  Guerita,  as  if 
greatly  astonished,  and  somewhat 
displeased.  As  for  La  Guerita,  she 
could  not  for  a  moment  comprehend 
the  audacity  of  the  speaker  ;  the  next 
she  turned  and  was  proudly  leaving 
the  room,  when  Mr.  Holmes  called 
her  back. 

"Rita,"  he  said,  "did  you  not 
hear  what  Mr.  Leveredge  said  ? 
What  do  you  mean  by  leaving  the 
room  ?  Sit  down  instantly,  and  take 
your  part  of  the  game. " 

She  stood  for  an  instant,  uncertain 
whether  to  rebel  or  obey ;  her  eyes 
flashed  and  her  bosom  heaved,  but 
she  did  not  entirely  lose  full  con- 
trol over  either  her  temper  or  person. 
Claude  looked  at  her  narrowly  ;  she 
saw  it,  and  thought  :  ' '  He  expects 
me  to  refuse  submission ;  I  shall 
give  him  some  pretext  for  insulting 
me  more  deeply  if  I  do. "  She  ap- 
proached the  table  slowly,  and  with 
the  air  of  a  queen — a  haughty  queen 
— took  the  chair  that  Claude  Lever- 
edge  placed  for  her.  For  a  few  min- 


utes she  seemed  quite  blind ;  her 
surroundings  faded  from  her  sight  ; 
she  was  again  at  Enola,  with  Harold, 
Victor,  and  Mrs.  DeGrey.  The  tears 
rose  to  her  eyes,  but  she  forced  tr^em 
back,  knowing  if  she  suffered  them 
to  come  she  should  lose  all  compos- 
ure ;  and  she  presently  found  herself 
following  Mrs.  Holmes'  lead,  and 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  game,  in 
which  she  had  been  forced  to  partici- 
pate. By  good  fortune  she  held  good 
cards,  and  played  them  well,  though 
without  taking  the  slightest  interest  in 
the  game,  or  any  part  of  the  conver- 
sation, which  Claude  Leveredge  strove 
to  make  most  constant  and  agreeable. 
She  played  as  if  in  a  dream — a  dream 
that  was  endless — taking  no- note  of 
anything.  She  heard  Mrs.  Lever- 
edge  make  a  remark  about  a  car- 
riage, without  at  all  comprehending 
what  it  was.  A  few  minutes  later  she 
heard  footsteps  in  the  hall,  the  door 
was  thrown  open,  and  Adela  Holmes 
entered  the  room,  followed  by  a  tall, 
elderly  gentlemen  and  a  troop  of  serv- 
ants. The  group  at  the  table  arose 
to  meet  them,  uttering  exclamations 
of  pleasure  and  surprise.  Miss 
Holmes  recognized  her  cousin,  and, 
turning  deadly  pale,  gasped  out : 
"Oh,  Claude,  they  did  not  tell  me 
you  were  here." 

He  greeted  her  warmly,  quickly 
dispelling  her  wonder  and  alarm  ; 
then  she  noticed  for  the  first  time  that 
La  Guerita  was  in  the  room,  and  the 
game  in  which  she  had  been  engag- 
ed. Instantly  her  countenance  cloud- 
ed with  indignation.  She  sprang  for- 
ward and  snatched  the  cards  from  La 
Guerita's  hand,  and  without  a  word 
motioned  her.  to  the  door.  She  left 
the  room  gladly,  but  saw  Miss 


In  Bonds. 


205 


Holmes  turn  upon  her  cousin  a 
glance  of  ineffable  scorn.  "So,  you 
could  not  let  me  know  you  were 
here, "  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  cutting 
irony;  "and  this  is  the  way  you 
keep  your  vows  ?  This  is  your  sense 
of  honor?"  * 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

"  O,  Lord,  my  boy,  my  Arthur,  my  fair  son — 
My  life,  my  joy,  my  food,  my  all  the  world — 
My  widow-comfort,  and  my  sorrow's  cure." 
Shakespeare. 

WELL  as  La  'Guerita  was  assured 
that  she  had  no  share  in  Miss  Ade- 
la's  anger  and  scorn,  the  hours  pass- 
ed wearily  until  she  could  hear  the 
fact  from  the  young  lady's  own  lips. 

"How  could  you  for  a  moment 
suppose  that  I  accused  you  falsely  ? " 
she  said,  in  reply  to  such  a  remark 
of  La  Guerita,  when  they  met  in 
the  school-house^  after  lesson-hours, 
the  following  day. 

< '  No  ;  all  my  anger  a,nd  scorn  was 
for  Claude — my  sympathy  for  you  ; 
but  last  night  was  not  the  time  to 
show  it.  I  remembered  that,  even  in 
the  height  of  my  indignation.  But, 
say,  were  you  not  for  a  moment 
more  startled  than  delighted  at  my 
appearance  ? " 

' '  I  must  own  that  I  was, "  returned 
La  Guerita  ;  ' '  for  much  as  I  longed 
for  your  coming,  I  had  no  expecta- 
tion of  seeing  you  until  to-morrow, 
at  the  earliest. " 

' '  I  often  laugh  at  you  for  your 
shrewd  prophecies  and  strange  pre- 
sentiments," said  Miss  Holmes; 
' '  but  I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  do 
so  again  ;  for  my  mind  has  been  full 
of  them  since  I  left  home.  My 
cousin  told  me  I  was  nervous,  and 
rallied  me  about  it ;  but  it  was  of  no 


use ;  I  could  not  shake  my  dismal 
forebodings  from  me ;  perhaps  they 
grew  all  the  more  rapidly  because  I 
would  not  mention  them.  At  last  I 
became  convinced  that  some  danger 
was  threatening  you,  and  I  wrote  to 
father  that  I  should  leave  Charleston 
this  week — that  being  the  earliest 
time  I  could  possibly  name.  Strange- 
ly enough,  just  after  that  letter  was 
sent  my  forebodings  increased  a  hun- 
dred fold  ;  so  that  I  most  earnestly 
begged  my  cousin  Charles  to  take 
charge  of  me  to  Raleigh,  instead  of 
causing  me  to  wait  for  his  brother 
Will.,  who  had  first  proposed  to  es- 
cort me,  and  who  could  not  have 
been  home  for  three  days  later.  The 
whole  family  protested  against  my 
leaving  them  so  hastily.  I  think,  in- 
deed, they  were  half  offended,  and 
would  have  been  wholly  so  had  any 
other  visitor  acted  so  obstinately  ; 
but  their  displeasure  troubled  me  lit- 
tle. Indeed,  I  scarcely  think  any- 
thing on  earth  would  have  kept  me 
from  Holmsford  a  day  longer  ;  and 
the  sequel  shows  I  am  right.  You 
are  in  danger,  my  poor  Rita ;  you 
do  need  my  sympathy  and  protec- 
tion. I  thank  God  I  am  here  to  give 
it.  But,  La  Guerita,  tell  me,  did 
Claude  look  so  wild  and  haggard 
when  he  first  reached  home  ?  It  is 
almost  impossible  for  me  to  believe 
even  now  that  he  has  not  come  from 
the  grave,  and  you  can  well  imagine 
his, appearance  at  first  startled  me." 

"  I  need  not  imagine  it, "  returned 
La  Guerita  ;  "I  felt,  perhaps,  even 
more  deeply  than  you,  certainly  more 
remorsefully. " 

Miss  Hojmes  looked  at  her  and 
sighed.  "Ah,  did  you  feel  remorse- 
fully?" she  said;  "and  yet  you 


206 


In  Bonds. 


should  not  have  done  so,  for  you 
have  never  rejoiced  in  his  fancied 
death,  though  it  brought  you  peace. 
What  has  his  return  to  life  done  to- 
ward destroying  that  peace  ?  What 
has  he  said  or  done  to  you  ? " 

La  Guerita  could  not,  even  in  the 
midst  of  her  own  anxiety,  repress  a 
smile  at  the  tone  of  defiant  solicitude 
in  which  these  last  words  were  spo- 
ken ;  still  she  gladly  proceeded  to 
place  her  newly  awakened  fears  and 
perplexities  before  the  clear  mind  of 
her  questioner,  feeling  assured  that 
they  would  be  understood,  and  that 
she  would  receive  the  sympathy,  and 
perhaps,  also,  the  counsel  she  needed. 

' '  Was  ever  man  so  bewitched  be- 
fore ? "  said  Miss  Holmes,  musing- 
ly, when  she  had  heard  what  La 
Guerita  had  to  tell.  "  It  seems  al- 
most incomprehensible  that  he  per- 
sists in  continuing  this  persecution  ; 
he  must,  by  this  time,  be  satisfied 
that  it  is  useless  ;  he  shall  know  it, 
at  any  rate,  to-day.  I  have  opposed 
him  silently  too  long.  I  will  find 
what  my  tongue  can  do.  That  is 
called  woman's  best  weapon,  you 
know. " 

' '  Oh,  I  beg  you  not  to  speak  to 
him  !  "  cried  La  Guerita,  in  alarm. 

' '  I  certainly  shall ;  I  intend  to 
know  why  he  persecuted  you  so  ;  I 
intend  to  know,  La  Guerita,  whether 
he  really  proposes  to  marry  you. 
You  know  I  have  doubted  it.  I 
think  such  a  question  from  me  will 
cause  him  to  reflect  upon  what  he  is 
doing. " 

"  I  think  he  debated  that  question 
years  ago, "  returned  La  Guerita,  col- 
oring, a  little  proudly  ;  %"and  I  most 
positively  believe  his  intentions  in  that 
respect  are  strictly  honorable. " 


Miss  Holmes 'said  nothing,  feeling 
sorry  she  had  said  anything  to  arouse 
La  Guerita's  sensitive  pride.  ' '  He  is 
a  Southerner, "  she  thought,  ' '  and, 
thank  Heaven,  Southerners  do  not 
marry  slaves.'" 

"There  he  is,"  she  added,  aloud  ; 
I  am  going  to  speak  to  him. " 

He  was  standing  in  the  garden, 
intently  watching  a  pair  of  ants,  that 
were  pushing  a  tiny  grain  toward 
their  hole.  He  did  not  see  his  cous- 
in until  she  approached  and  laid  her 
hand  upon  his  arm.  He  started,  and 
laughed,  as  he  called  her  attention  to 
the  tiny  laborers. 

"  Work  is  a  good  thing,"  he  said, 
lightly;  "it  keeps  even  these  ants 
out  of  mischief.  I  haven't  a  doubt, 
if  they  were  idle  they  would  be  look- 
ing around  for  some  person  or  thing 
to  sting."  ^ 

"You  are  quite  a  philosopher, 
Claude." 

' '  Any  ma*i  gets  to  be  that  who  has 
been  on  the  sick-list  three  or  four 
months. "  . 

' '  That  is  very  true,  or  he  ought  to. 
I  came  to  tell  you  so,  Claude.  I  have 
been  talking  to  La  Guerita  DeCuba, 
and  I  came  to  tell  you  so. " 

He  colored,  quickly  and  angrily,  at 
her  unexpected  words.  "  What  has 
La  Guerita  to  do  with  me  ? "  he  at 
last  said,  sullenly. 

' l  Nothing, "  returned  Miss  Holmes, 
promptly  ;  "you  know,  Claude,  that 
she  is  never  so  happy  as  when  sepa- 
rated from  you  ;  but  you  have  much 
to  do  with  her  ;  you  take  from  her  all 
the  happiness  of  her  life. " 

' '  I  take  from  her  the  happiness  of 
her  life  ? "  he  exclaimed,  excitedly  ; 
"it  is  not  so;  I  would  restore  it  to 
her.  It  is  your  father,  and  our  ac- 


In  Bonds. 


207 


cursed  laws  and  law-givers,  that  take 
it  from  her  ;  it  is  those  that  keep  her 
in  slaver}-." 

' '  And  are  you  not  one  ? " 

' '  Have  I  not  offered  her  freedom 
a  hundred  times,  and  I  offer  it  to  her 
again.  Go,  Adela,  and  tell  her  so  ; 
tell  her  I  will  take  her  and  her  child 
out  of  this  accursed  bondage. " 

' '  Would  you  marry  her,  Claude  ?  " 

The  question  was  asked  very  qui- 
etly. She  saw  him  grow  pale  and 
tremble  for  an  instant. 

' '  What  right  have  you  to  ask  me 
such  a  question  ? "  he  said,  at  length. 

' '  I  was  thinking  of  her  happiness, 
Claude." 

"Her  happiness?  and  you  keep 
her  in  bondage  here,  on  a  level  with 
the  lowest  of  the  low.  Do  you  ex- 
pect her-  to  find  happiness  here? 
You  were  thinking  of  her  happiness. 
You  would  do  better  to  believe  that 
I  think  of  it,  and  of  my  own  honor. " 

' '  And  you  would  marry  her  ?  " 

1 '  Good  Heavens  !  Adela,  why 
should  I  not  ?  " 

' '  Have  you  ever  considered  that  your 
family — that  the  whole  world  would 
suggest  many  reasons  why  you  should 
not.  You  must  have  done  so,  or  you 
would  have  told  my  father  years  ago 
that  you  wished  to  marry  Rita,  and 
would  not  have  so  grossly  deceived 
him  as  to  your  real  motive  in  keep- 
ing her  in  durance  here." 

"Your  father  is  her  master/' he 
said,  sternly. 

' '  You  are  her  master, "  retorted 
Miss  Holmes,  angrily,  striving  in 
vain  to  keep  her  temper;  "my 
father  would  have  freed  her  years  ago 
had  you  not  bound  him  by  an  oath 
to  hold  her ;  and  if  you  had  not 
forced  that  oath  from  him  bv  hold- 


ing over  his  head  menaces  of  the 
vengeance  of  her  family  should  her 
hiding-place  be  discovered.  You 
practiced  well  upon  my  father's  fears, 
Claude  Leveredge,  and  upon  his  love 
for  you.  You  told  him  that  your  life 
would  not  be  worth  the  asking  if  she 
returned  home.  You  confessed  to 
him  the  base  part  you  had  acted  in 
making  her  parentage  known  to  her 
husband,  and  cajoled  him  into  the 
promise  to  keep  her  in  slaver}-  until 
all  danger  of  your  life,  by  the  hands 
of  her  brother,  was  overpast.  You 
are  not  a  coward,  Claude,  but  you 
feigned  to  be,  with  good  effect,  then. " 

He  actually  cowered  beneath  the 
gaze  of  scorn  she  threw  upon  him  ; 
but  rallied  immediately,  saying,  with 
a  careless  laugh  : 

' '  Are  you  ubiquitous,  Adela  ?  " 

' '  No, "  she  said. 

"Then  you  were  eaves-dropping 
instead.  I  think  you  have  belied  the 
promises  of  you* childhood  as  much 
as  I,  Adela." 

"No,"  she  answered,  flushing; 
' '  I  was  not  eaves-dropping,  my  cou- 
sin ;  but  your  plot  was  easily  read  by 
one  who  studied  your  character  as  I 
have ;  and  as  to  belying  the  prom- 
ises of  my  childhood,  I  have  never 
broken  vows,  as  you  have  done.  But 
I  did  not  come  here  to  exchange  re- 
proaches. I  came  to  tell  you  that 
you  are  persecuting  La  Guerita  in 
vain  ;  she  will  never  yield  to  you  ; 
she  will  never  marry  you. " 

"Then  it  is  you  that  will  prevent 
her, "  he  burst  forth,  angrily  ;  ' '  but, 
by  heaven,  you  shall  find  it  a  hard 
task.  Do  you  think  I  am  like  you, 
so  narrow-minded  that  I  weigh  the 
drop  of  Ethiopian  blood  in  her 
veins  against  her  beauty,  her  accom- 


208 


In   Bonds. 


plishments,  and  her  thousand  natural 
charms  ?  I  tell  you,  Adela  Holmes, 
that  though  La  Guerita  DeCuba  was 
born  a  slave,  you  might  be  proud  to 
see  her  the  wife  of  the  worthiest  of 
your  family. " 

' '  Not  against  her  will ;  not  when 
she  has  only  contempt,  and  fear,  and 
hate,  to  give  with  her  hand. " 

.  "  I  care  for  none  of  that, "  he  ejac- 
ulated, with  an  impatient  gesture ;  ' '  I 
swore  years  ago  that  she  should  be 
my  wife,  and  my  wife  she  shall  be.  I 
love  her !  Is  not  that  enough  ?  " 

1 '  It  would  have  been  better,  Claucle, 
that  you  had  killed  her  at  Fairview. 
It  would  have  been  better  that  you 
had  proved  your  love  for  her  so.  You 
are  killing  her  by  slow  torture  now  ; 
it  could  have  been  done  by  a  blow 
then." 

"You  talk  like  a  mad  woman, 
Adela." 

' '  You  know  I  was  the  companion 
of  one  for  many  \feeks,  and  I  may 
be  again. " 

He  winced  under  her  look,  crying 
out,  desperately  :  "I  cannot  help  it  ; 
I  will  not  give  her  up.  I  will  make 
no  vows  to  do  so  ;  for  I  have  given 
up  my  very  soul  to  the  attainment  of 
the  one  object.  You  can  go  and  tell 
La  Guerita  so.  Tell  her  that  I  am  a 
man,  and  cannot  tire,  while  she, 
sooner  or  later,  must.  And,  Adela,  I 
warn  you  that  you  had  better  caution 
her  to  yield  before  she  aggravates  me 
farther ;  for  I  have  my  hand  upon 
the  tenderest  part  of  her  heart,  and  I 
am  not  a  man  to  spare  it.  Stay,  I 
will  tell  her  so  myself. " 

He  strode  rapidly  toward  the 
school-house  ;  she  saw  him  enter 
and  close  the  door,  and  watched 
long  for  his  reappearance,  but  turn- 


ed away  at  last  unsatisfied.  La  Gue- 
rita came  to  her  room  two  hours 
later,  with  face  and  lips  of  ashen 
paleness,  and  told  her  how  he  had 
striven  with  her — how  sorely  she  had 
been  tempted  to  yield,  and  how,  at 
the  moment,  some  angel  seemed  to 
whisper  her  that  more  sorrow  and 
shame  than  ever  she  could  dream  of 
awaited  her  if  she  did.  ' '  I  know 
not  how  it  was,"  she  concluded, 
"but  some  visible  presence  seemed 
to  bar  him  back  from  me,  and  she 
seemed  to  take  the  form  of  that  pale, 
lovely  girl  whose  picture  you  found 
among  Claude's  effects,  after  his  sup- 
posed death.  I  did  not  take  much 
notice  of  it  when  you  showed  it  to 
me,  and  it  seemed  almost  a  miracle 
that  it  appeared  to  warn  me  back 
when  I  was  so  sorely  tempted  to  yield 
to  his  entreaties  and  threats,  and  win 
my  freedom  even  at  his  fearful  price. " 

It  was  the  last  time  that  Claude 
Leveredge  ever  tempted  her  by  word 
or  look.  That  very  evening  he  an- 
nounced to  his  uncle  his  intention  to 
go  to  Richmond,  and  remain  there 
until  able  to  rejoin  the  army. 

Rejoiced  as  La  Guerita  and  Adela 
were  to  hear  of  this  determination, 
they  did  not  repress  the  feeling  of 
uneasiness  at  the  suddenness  of  his 
resolve,  although  they  could  ngt  con- 
jecture how  it  could  be  made  to  ope- 
rate to  La  Guerita's  disadvantage. 

' '  And  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  Harold 
is  hidden  away  somewhere,  crying  his 
bright  eyes  out  for  him, "  added  Miss 
Holmes.  I  never  saw  such  an  extra- 
ordinary thing  in  my  life  ;  the  child 
seemed  perfectly  bewitched  by  him 
the  last  few  days  of  his  stay. " 

' '  La  Guerita  went  to  the  door  and 
called  :  ' '  Harry  !  "  but  instead,  Miss 


In  Bonds. 


209 


Matilda  came,  frowning  like  a  sphynx, 
and  looking  as  wise. 

' '  I  know  what  will  come  of  it  ;  he 
will  make  him  a  hundred  times  more 
of  an  imp  than  he  is  already ;  but 
what  upon  earth  Claude  could  want 
to  take  him  to  Richmond  for  I  can't 
imagine.  Reckon  it  must  be  because 
it  is  a  good  place  to  finish  off  associ- 
ates of  his  Satanic  Majesty. " 

' '  La  Guerita  had  listened  to  her 
as  if  in  a  dream  ;  but  she  sprang  for- 
ward then,  her  eyes  flashing  like  fire. 

' '  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  " 
she  cried.  l '  Where  is  my  boy  ?  Has 
he  taken  my  boy  ? " 

The  old  lady  was  startled  into  a  di- 
rect answer.  ' '  Yes  ;  didn't  you  know 
it  ?  They  went  three  hours  ago. " 

' '  Oh,  my  boy — my  pretty,  pretty 
boy  !  "  screamed  La  Guerita,  in  ago- 
ny;  "he  will  ruin  him  !  he  will  kill 
him — body  and  soul.  Oh,  Miss  Ade- 
la,  save  my  boy  !  " 

Miss  Holmes  drew  La  Guerita  into 
the  cabin,  shutting  the  door,  and  leav- 
ing Miss  Matilda  upon  the  steps,  in  a 
state  of  bewilderment,  from  which  she 
did  not  recover  for  many  minutes. 

' '  Listen  to  me  !  "  she  said,  very 
quietly,  though  her  face  was  pale  as 
snow,  and  her  heart  throbbed  long- 
ingly for  the  lost  boy  ;  ' '  Claude  can 
do  the  child  no  harm  ;  he  has  only 
done  this  to  frighten  you.  It  is  cruel 
— very  cruel,  but  think  of  it  calmly. " 

* '  I  cannot !  "  cried  La  Guerita, 
starting  to  her  feet.  "  Oh,  my  God  ! 
think  what  he  has  taken  from  me  ; 
but  you  cannot  think  ;  you  have  no 
child." 

"Claude  is  not  a  brute, "  said  Miss 

Holmes,  persuasively ;   "he  will  do 

the  boy  no  harm,  and  he  shall  restore 

him  to  you.     I  will  go  to  my  father 

27 


and  tell  him  all.  Don't  cry  so  wild- 
ly, Rita — be  still ;  for  heaven's  sake, 
be  still !  " 

' '  Oh,  I  shall  never,  never  see  my 
boy  again  !  My  Harold's  child  is 
lost  to  me  forever  !  Oh,  that  I  were 
dead !  Oh,  that  I  were  dead  !  " 

So  she  moaned,  traversing  the  floor 
with  rapid  steps,  and  pressing  her 
hands  wildly  to  her  burning  temples. 
In  vain  Miss  Holmes  strove  to  com- 
fort her  by  caresses,  hopeful  words, 
and  tears.  Suddenly  she  threw  the 
door  open  and  darted  across  the 
garden,  into  the  house,  and  to  Mr. 
Holmes'  study. 

She  found  the  master  there  and  de- 
manded her  child,  breaking  out  into 
such  a  storm  of  entreaties  and  re- 
proaches as  overwhelmed  him. 

' '  Leveredge  wanted  him  ;  Lever- 
edge  will  take  -care  of  him,"  was  all 
he  could  say  until  his  daughter  came 
and  added  her  voice  to  La  Guerita's. 

' '  Papa,  why  did  you  give  Claude 
Rita's  child  ? " 

1 '  He  wanted  him — he  had  a  fancy 
to  take  him  to.  Richmond  ;  he  is  go- 
ing to  send  him  back  in  a  week  or  so. " 

"He  will  never  send  him  back," 
moaned  La  Guerita. 

1 '  What  do  you  think  he  will  want 
him  for  when  he  gets  well  enough  to 
join  the  army,"  said  Mr.  Holmes, 
angrily.  ' '  Go  away,  Rita,  and  don't 
make  a  fool  of  yourself.  Is  it  going 
to  hurt  the  child  to  stay  with  Mr. 
Leveredge  a  week  or  a  month  ? " 

"  Promise  her,  papa,  that  he  shall 
return  immediately, "  said  Adela,  ear- 
nestly ;  "  you  must,  indeed,  you 
must " 

"Yes,  promise  me,  promise  me 
that,"  cried  La  Guerita,  entreatingly. 
"I  shall  go  mad  if  you  do  not. 


210 


In  Bonds. 


Promise  me,  and  I  will  pray  the  Al- 
mighty God  unceasingly  to  make  you 
faithful  to  your  word. " 

' '  But  I  tell  you  Claude  only  wants 
him  for  a  little  while.  The  boy  was 
glad  to  go — he  was  delighted,  though 
he  cried  a  little  because  his  mother 
was  not  here  to  bid  him  good- by. 
There,  Rita,  don't  cry, "  for  her  tears 
burst  forth  at  the  mention  of  the 
child's  grief;  "  I  never  thought  you 
would  mind  his  going.  Addie  shall 
write  to  Claude  to  send  him  right 
back,  if  you  like." 

With  this  promise  she  was  some- 
what comforted,  and  left  the  study  to 
find  relief  for  her  surcharged  heart. 
A  little  reflection  convinced  her  that 
no  immediate  danger  need  be  appre- 
hended for  the  child,  but  she  could 
not,  in  all  her  reasoning,  silence  her 
grief  and  anxiety  at  this  forced  sepa- 
ration from  the  nearest  and  dearest  of 
all  things  upon  earth. 

Adela's  letter  to  her  cousin  was 
quickly  written  and  sent  She  not 
only  demanded  the  return  of  the 
child,  but  in  the  most  moving  terms 
entreated  him  to  pity  the  desolate 
mother,  and  give  her  the  only  bless- 
ing that  had  for  years  been  left  her. 

Miss  Holmes  thought  La  Guerita 
must  have  anticipated  the  reply  that 
was  made  to  this,  for  she  received  it 
very  calmly,  even  the  scrap  of  paper 
to  her,  on  which  was  written  : 

"I  shall  keep  the  child  as  a  hos- 
tage for  you.  When  you  get  tired  of 
waiting  come  for  him. " 

"O,  God,  I  am  sick  of  waiting 
already,"  she  muttered  ;  "sick,  sick 
unto  death,  but  I  cannot  go.  O, 
God,  help  me  to  say  that,  even  for 
the  sake  of  my  child,  I  cannot  perjure 
my  soul.  I  cannot,  I  cannot ;  would 


not  the  child  be  overwhelmed  in  his 
mother's  shame  ? " 

Miss  Holmes  took  the  letter  she 
had  received  from  her  cousin,  and, 
burning  with  indignation,  laid  it  be- 
fore her  father.  He  was  much  dis- 
turbed at  its  contents. 

' '  It  seems  strange, "  he  said  ;  "I 
thought  he  would  have  sent  the  child 
immediately.  Write  to  him  how  woe- 
begone the  mother  looks. " 

11  It  would  be  useless, "  said  Adela, 
vehemently,  t  ( and  worse  than  useless. 
He  has  taken  him  from  her  to  tor- 
ment her.  He  attempted  to  do  so 
once  before. "  And  in  a  few  words 
she  told  how  Thornton  Leslie  had 
rescued  Harold  from  him  on  the 
cliffs  of  Ellisville. 

' '  Ah,  then  that  is  the  secret  of  your 
friendship  for  her,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Holmes,  angrily.  "You  weep  and 
wail  over  her  because  she  knew  that 
Yankee  lover  that  you  should  blush 
to  name." 

' '  Papa, "  returned  Adela,  plead- 
ingly, "put  Thornton  out  of  your 
thoughts,  and  let  me  tell  you  of  La 
Guerita  DeCuba,  and  of  the  wrong 
you  have  blindly  abetted  so  long. 
Claude  Leveredge  is  persecuting  her 
now,  and  has  persecuted  her  for  years, 
with  his  unwelcome  attentions. " 

' '  Adela, "  said  her  father,  severely, 
1 '  such  thoughts  should  never  have 
entered  your  mind.  Claude  is  a 
gentleman,  and  Rita  a  slave. " 

' '  A  lady,  papa.  Claude  acknowl- 
edges that,  if  as  well  not  you. " 

' '  What  do  you  mean  ? " 

"Should  you  think  it  possible  for 
Claude  to  marry  Rita,  papa  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not  ;  it  would  not  be 
even  possible  for  him  to  do  such  a 
thing. " 


In  Bonds. 


211 


* '  In  other  countries  it  would,  and 
his  sole  aim  for  more  than  ten  years 
has  been  to  make  La  Guerita  DeCuba 
his  wife. 

Mr.  Holmes  looked  at  his  daugh- 
ter in  blank  amazement. 

' '  To  make  her  his  wife  ?  Impos- 
sible ! " 

* '  Do  you  think  I  would  tell  you  a 
falsehood,  papa  ? " 

"No,  daughter,  no." 

"Then  I  assure  you  most  posi- 
tively that  he  has  assured  me  he  will 
never  cease  his  endeavors  to  make 
her  his  wife  until  one  or  both  die. 
He  has  taken  that  child  as  a  hostage  ; 
this  note,  written  by  his  own  hand, 
will  tell  you  so. " 

Mr.  Holmes  read  and  reread  the 
few  lines  as  if  he  could  gather  no 
clue  to  their  meaning.  Firmly  and 
clearly  his  daughter  pointed  it  out  to 
him.  It  was  pitiful  to  see  the  utterly 
hopeless  and  sorrowful  expression  of 
his  features  as  he  said,  brokenly  : 

' '  So  even  Claude  has  deceived  me, 
even  Claude  has  made  a  tool  of  me, 
to  bring  disgrace  upon  our  family. 
But  I  can't  believe  it, "  he  added,  im- 
pulsively, forgetting  for  a  moment  the 
presence  of  his  daughter ;  "he  might 
have  taken  her.  away,  but  he  cannot 
have  disgraced  us  by  marrying  her. " 

"Papa,  would  you  have  him  dis- 
grace us  more  ? "  asked  Miss  Holmes, 
quietly. 

"I  forgot  you.  I  forget  things 
often  now, "  exclaimed  her  father,  ir- 
ritably. "Oh,  dear,  how  I  wish  I 
had  never  seen  the  woman's  face.  It 
was  beautiful  enough  to  bring  me  a 
fortune,  and  it  has  half  ruined  me 
instead.  Nothing  goes  right  with  me 
now.  I  have  not  a  friend  in  the 
world.  Claude  Leveredge,  that  I  had 


done  so  much  for,  almost  insulted 
me  because  I  allowed  Rufus  to  enter 
the  army  to  avenge  his  supposed 
death,  and  Rufus  himself  has  written 
me  four  pages  of  the  most  terrible 
abuse  because  I  wrote  him  advising 
him  to  return  home.  I  don't  believe 
I  have  a  friend  in  the  world,  or  that 
there  is  one  to  care  for  me. " 

It  was  touching  to  see  the  abject 
way  in  which  the  old  man  bent  his 
white  brow  upon  his  wrinkled  hands. 
His  daughter  found  it  deeply  so,  and 
throwing  her  arms  around  him  beg- 
ged him  to  believe  that  she  loved  him 
writh  all  her  heart,  and  when  he  was 
somewhat  comforted,  entreated  him 
to  comfort  the  slave  he  had  oppressed 
so  long  by  giving  her  her  freedom 
and  restoring  to  her  her  child. 

' '  I  will  see  about  it  to-morrow, " 
he  said  to  this,  first, ' '  and  I  will  write 
to  Claude  to-day.  Tell  her  to  be 
easy,  Adela ;  tell  her  I'll  bring  the 
child  back  if  I  have  to  go  to  Rich- 
mond for  him  to-morrow.  But  Adela, 
indeed,  indeed,  it  is  hard  for  me  to 
think  that  Claude  has  deceived  me 
so.  He  begged  me  for  my  own  sake 
to  keep  the  woman  in  slavery,  quite 
true ;  and  now  to  think  that  he  did 
so  only  for  his  own  purposes,  and 
that  he  may  bring  disgrace  upon  us 
by  marrying  her." 

' '  By  breaking  her  heart, "  thought 
Adela. 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

"  Leaves  have  their  time  to  (all, 

And  flowers  to  wither  at  the  north  winds'  breath, 
And  stars  to  set ;  but  all — 

Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  O,  Death  !" 
Mr».Bemmu. 

WITH  a,  joyful  heart,  Miss  Holmes 
hastened  to  La  Guerita  with  the  prom- 


212 


In   Bonds. 


ises  her  father  had  made  ;  and  upon 
the  hopes  they  raised,  the  weeping 
mother  strove  to  live,  but  her  faith  in 
man  perished,  when  day  after  day 
wore  by,  and  brought  no  tidings  of 
her  child.  But  for  that  other  faith — 
her  faith  in  God — born  amid  tribula- 
tions, she  could  not  have  patiently 
endured  them — those  weeks  of  wait- 
ing would  have  been  unsupporta- 
ble. 

As  it  was,  there  were  times  when 
her  brain  seemed  reeling,  and  her 
heart  bursting,  and  Miss  Holmes 
feared  to  leave  her,  lest  the  old  mad- 
ness should  come  upon  her.  No 
one  knew  what  prayers  she  breath- 
ed to  be  kept  from  that.  No  one 
knew  how  she  strove  with  the  Lord 
to  turn  aside  the  frenzy  that  oftimes 
threatened  her — not  that  she  feared 
with  Miss  Holmes,  that  she  should 
be  tempted  to  take  her  life.  Calm 
and  inviting  as  the  waters  looked, 
she  knew  she  would  never  seek  their 
embrace  while  Harold  lived.  Often 
as  she  looked  longingly  at  the  grassy 
mounds  on  the  hill  side,  she  prayed 
that  one  might  not  rise  upon  her 
breast  while  Harold  was  in  bondage. 
The  weary  days  of  her  life  were  un- 
counted then — her  miseries,  save  the 
parting  from  her  boy,  were  all  for- 
gotten ;  all  merged  in  that.  The 
child,  the  child  !  Oh,  for  how  many 
weary  months  her  constant  cry  was  : 
"  My  lost  child  !  My  ruined  child  !  " 

Alone  though  she  was — a  slave  in 
bonds  most  irksome — a  widowed 
mother  with  nought  beside  to  love — 
she  could  have  spared  him  had  it 
been  for  his  good.  So  she  said  a 
thousand  times  a  day  ;  but  what  of 
good  could  he  learn  of  Claude  Lev- 
eredge.  Rather,  what  prayers  could 


ward  off — what  tears  wash  out — the 
evil  he  would  gain. 

Truly  it  appeared,  as  Mr.  Holmes 
had  said,  that  none  cared  for  him,  or 
paid  the  least  respect  to  his  wishes. 
The  days  of  his  power,  the  wavering 
powers  he  once  held,  were  gone.  He 
had,  through  all  his  life,  been  a  man 
of  doubtful  mind  ;  seldom  advanc- 
ing an  opinion,  and  never  clinging 
to  it.  For  a  year  or  two  preceding 
the  war,  his  daughter  Adela  had,  by 
the  firmness  and  decision  of  her  char- 
acter, done  much  to  give  the  same 
qualities  to  his  ;  but  her  efforts  were 
•  indeed  useless,  when  the  approach  of 
war  drew  around  him.  The  most 
prominent  men  of  his  State,  on  ac- 
count of  his  wealth  and  influence, 
used  every  argument  in  their  power 
to  induce  him  to  enroll  himself  with 
the  active  secession  party.  They 
flattered  his  vanity  by  presenting  to 
him  a  grand  estimate  of  his  own  im- 
portance, and  that  of  the  cause  in 
which  he  was  engaged.  It  may  be, 
too,  that  Ernest  Gordon,  his  chief 
adviser,  laughed  jeeringly,  yet  pleas- 
antly withal,  over  the  power  his 
daughter  had  over  him.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  it  is  certain  that  when  he  cast 
aside  that  power,  he  cast  aside  his 
own ;  and  in  the  third  year  of  the 
war,  he  found  himself  neglected  by 
the  political  party  that  had  formerly 
courted  him.  Spoken  of  lightly  as  a 
man  without  wit  or  influence  by  his 
personal  friends,  and  even  by  his 
children  regarded  with  more  pitying 
than  admiring  affection. 

Very  drearily  passed  his  days,  dur- 
ing the  fall  of  '63,  when  all  others,  if 
sad,  were  active.  A  strange  lethargy 
seemed  coming  upon  him  ;  people 
called  him  "an  old  man,"  and  said 


In  Bonds. 


213 


he  was  growing  gray  and  stupid  very 
fast. 

They  would  not  have  wondered 
that  he  did  so,  could  they  have  read 
the  thoughts  that  filled  his  mind,  at 
the  sight  of  La  Guerita  DeCuba,  the 
woman  he  had  enslaved  in  her  mad- 
ness— the  woman  he  had,  in  his  folly, 
bereaved  of  her  only  child.  For  so 
it  seemed  he  had  done  forever,  by 
giving  Harold  DeGray  to  the  care  of 
Claude  Leveredge.  For  the  winter 
wore  away,  and  still  the  child  was 
not  returned  to  his  home. 

From  time  to  time  Mr.  Holmes 
received  from  his  nephew  a  vague  as- 
surance that  the  child  should  be  sent 
shortly,  and  with  that  he  would  rest 
content  until  aroused  by  remon- 
strances from  his  daughter,  or  pas- 
sionate appeals  from  La  Guerita. 

' '  I  will  go  to  Richmond,  myself, " 
she  said  at  last,  ' '  I  shall  die  if  I  stay 
here  in  this  dreadful  suspense.  You 
cannot  be  so  cruel  as  to  forbid  my 
going  ;  if  you  do  it  will  make  no  dif- 
erence,  for  my  heart  is  breaking  for 
my  child.  I  will,  I  must  see  him. " 

' '  Go  to  Adela  about  it, "  was  Mr. 
Holmes' reply ;  "Heaven  knows,  I 
want  you  to  have  your  child.  I  told 
Claude  so  in  my  last  letter.  I  don't 
want  you  to  go  to  Richmond  ;  it 
would  not  be  safe  for  you  to  do  so  ; 
it  is  a  dreadfully  wicked  place,  I  hear. 
But  go  to  Adela,  and  she  will  tell 
you  what  to  do. " 

"  Stay  at  home,"  said  Miss  Holmes, 
decidedly,  when  her  father's  words 
were  repeated  to  her.  ' '  Stay  at 
home,  unless  you  wish  to  put  your- 
self wholly  in  Claude's  power. " 

1 '  But  my  child  ;  I  think  of  my 
child,"  she  returned,  almost  fiercely. 
' '  Can  I  think  of  my  own  danger 


when  I  know  the  peril  he  is  in.  O, 
God,  can  it  be  that  I  am  wrong.  Have 
I  mistaken  contemptible  and  un- 
womanly obstinacy  for  virtuous  and 
most  righteous  determination  ? " 

' '  Certainly  you  have  not, "  replied 
Miss  Holmes,  warmly;  "It  is  not 
necessary  for  me  to  assure  you  of 
that.  Your  conscience  must  do  so 
every  moment  of  your  life. " 

' '  It  does,  it  does, ''  cried  La  Gue- 
rita, earnestly,  "  and  yet  I  am  almost 
persuaded  to  make  any  sacrifice  to 
save  my  child  from  the  hand  that 
holds  him  now.  My  very  hope  of 
eternal  happiness  I  would  give." 

"La  Guerita!" 

1 '  Oh,  you  cannot  know  the  depth 
of  a  mother's  love,  Miss  Adela.  What 
is  even  my  eternal  welfare  when 
staked  against  that  of  my  child  ?  I 
tell  you  there  is  but  one  thing  that 
keeps  me  from  yielding  to  Claude 
Leveredge  now,  and  that  is  that  I 
cannot  perjure  myself  before  God, 
and  dishonor  further  my  child's  dead 
father.  No,  no,  it  is  better  for  him  to 
live  and  die  the  slave  of  his  bitterest 
enemy,  than  in  freedom  to  groan  in 
shame  and  misery  t)ver  a  mother  so 
lost  and  vile  as  I  should  seem  to 
him.  I  have  felt  the  curses  of  the 
son  of  my  parents,  and  never,  never, 
shall  he  bear  the  miser)'  that  has  been 
mine — the  misery  a  thousand  times 
more  keen  than  any  that  servitude 
can  bring. " 

At  times  she  would  speak  of  the 
matter  more  calmly,  saying,  that  she 
felt  that  the  Lord  would  suffer  her 
to  free  the  child  she  had  enslaved. 
Death  could  have  no  power  over  her 
while  such  a  mighty  tie  as  the  duty 
she  owed  her  child,  held  her  to  the 
earth. 


2I4 


In  Bonds. 


When  her  agony  seemed  unsup- 
portable,  when  those  around  were 
anxiously  striving  to  derive  some 
mode  of  allaying  the  agony  under 
which  her  mind  and  health  were  visi- 
bly declining,  help  came  from  an  un- 
expected quarter.  Help — yet  in  the 
form  of  a  mighty  temptation.  It  was 
a  letter  from  Harold.  A  thousand 
times  was  the  little  missive  read  by 
his  mother,  and  fondly  was  every 
word  pondered  over,  though  she 
could  not  but  believe  that  each  had 
been  dictated  by  Claude  Leveredge, 
or  allowed  to  reach  her  fresh  from 
the  heart  of  her  child  only  to  tempt 
and  agonize  her  soul. 

' '  My  dear  mamma, "  ran  the  mis- 
sive, ' '  Mr  Leveredge  has  told  rrfe 
that  I  can  write  to  you,  and  I  am  so 
glad,  for  it  is  so  long  since  I  have 
seen  you,  that  I  feel  as  if  you  must 
be  dead,  else  you  would  have  written 
to  me  or  come  to  see  me.  I  did  not 
know  I  was  to  stay  so  long  when  Mr. 
Leveredge  took  me  away,  and  though 
I  wanted  to  see  you,  yet  there  were  so 
many  fine  things  to  see  in  Richmond 
that  I  was  contented  for  a  while  to 
stay.  But  I  could  not  help  thinking 
of  you,  and  that  made  me  feel  dull 
all  day,  and  cry  all  night ;  and  then 
I  was  sick,  but  I  thought  you  were 
with  me  then,  mamma  ;  and  it  was 
so  dreadful  to  find  that  I  had  been 
dreaming  all  the  time  ;  and  when  I 
cried  about  it  again,  the  gentlemen 
all  laughed  at  me  (there  are  a  great 
many  gentlemen  here  all  the  time, 
and  they  give  me  champagne,  and 
teach  me  to  play  cards  with  them,  and 
the  other  day  I  won  ten  dollars)  ; 
but  Mr.  Leveredge  does  not  laugh 
when  I  cry  about  you,  and  he  told 
me  to-day  to  write  you,  and  tell  you 


he  is  willing  to  take  us  all  to  some 
beautiful  country,  where  we  shall 
never  be  lonely  or  sick  any  more. 
Dear  mamma,  won't  you  go  ?  Doc- 
tor Pillow  said  to-day  I  should  die  if 
I  did  not  see  my  mother,  and  indeed, 
indeed  I  shall,  for  though  I  love  Mr. 
Leveredge  dearly,  and  he  is  very  good 
to  me,  he  is  not  like  my  dear  mam- 
ma. Ask  Miss  Adela  to  come  with 
you,  and  tell  her  I  want  to  see  her 
next  to  you.  I  shall  look  for  you 
next  week,  and  I  know  you  will  come 
to  your  affectionate  son, 

"  HAROLD  DzGREY." 

A  fresh  temptation  did  I  say  this 
letter  was?  Ah,  not  so  much  a 
temptation  as  an  agony.  She  had 
known  ever  since  the  child's  departure 
that  his  safety  lay  not  in  her  hands, 
but  in  God's.  Scarce  did  the  thought 
occur  to  her  as  with  breaking  heart 
she  read  the  childish  words,  to  her  so 
expressive  of  the  child's  loneliness 
and  pain,  that  she,  by  yielding — as 
many  women  would  have  been  glad 
to  yield — regardless  of  the  sin,  could 
save  the  child.  Was  he  to  die  if  she 
did  not?  Had  she  not  said  that 
"  Death  was  better  for  him  than  the 
misery  he  would  some  time  know, 
were  he  saved  at  such  a  cost  ? "  Her 
heart  was  rent  at  the  thought  of  her 
child  sick  and  alone,  but  her  resolu- 
tion was  not  shaken. 

"My  child,  my  child,"  she  said, 
firmly,  "  Heaven  is  better  than  this 
breath  we  draw.  We  will  choose  it, 
even  though  moments  of  incalculable 
agony  lie  before,  rather  than  gain  a 
little  lease  of  life,  perhaps  of  pleasure, 
at  the  cost  of  our  souls. " 

She  could  not  write  this  to  him, 
but  she  wrote  what  Claude  Leveredge 


In  Bonds. 


215 


would  understand  to  mean  the  same, 
and  which  would  comfort  and  cheer 
the  heart  of  the  suffering  child.  Hope 
whispered  that  his  illness  might  be 
exaggerated  by  his  fears,  or  by  Claude 
Leveredge,  in  order  that  the  sensibil- 
ities of  her  heart  might  be  excited,  as 
they  often  before  had  been,  to  act  with 
a  power  her  mind  could  not  balance 
or  sustain — but  that  time  had  passed. 
Reason,  that  had  tottered  on  its 
throne,  was  seated  there  forever  by 
the  hand  of  that  God  who  guards  all 
those  that  put  their  trust  in  him. 

Strangely  enough,  this  letter  quieted 
her  late  distracted  mind. 

* '  I  can  contemplate  his  death  and 
mine, "she  said,  "far  more  calmly 
than  slaver}'  for  him  or  dishonor  for 
myself. " 

' '  I  don't  believe  the  child  is  ill, " 
said  Miss  Holmes  ;  "  he  would  not 
dare  to  keep  him  if  he  were,  he  would 
not  dare  to  let  him  die  in  his  hands. 
There  will  come  a  day  when  he  will 
have  to  give  an  account  to  the  child's 
guardians  of  all  this  ;  he  knows  that 
as  well  as  I.  I  wonder  that  he  did 
not  threaten  to  sell  the  child.  It 
would  have  been  but  a  fitting  climax 
to  what  has  gone  before. " 

"Ah,  if  the  child  were  out  of 
Richmond — any  where  out  of  Rich- 
mond," replied  La  Guerita.  "It  is 
no  place  for  him.  He  has  a  pure 
soul,  but  I  fear  greatly  it  will  be  made 
black  enough  by  the  atmosphere  he 
breathes.  Nor  is  it  even  safe  for  his 
body,  for  I  hear  the  Northerners  are 
advancing  upon  the  city  now,  and  ere 
long  it  will  be  beleaguered. " 

"We  believed  that  once  before," 
remarked  Miss  Holmes. 

"And  I  have  faith  to  believe  it 
again, "  said  La  Guerita.  ' '  The  Lord 


worketh  in  his  own  good  time,  yet  it 
seems  to  me  the  hour  of  freedom  is  at 
hand. " 

' '  God  grant  it ! "  ejaculated  Adela, 
earnestly.  ' '  I  have  been  thinking 
much  of  late  of  our  dear,  wayward 
Rufus.  You  know  if  they  are  fight- 
ing now  he  is  with  them." 

' '  Poor  boy, "  said  La  Guerita,  sigh- 
ing, ' '  poor  boy  !  So  young  and  yet 
so  eager  to  rush  into  danger. " 

Adela's  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

' '  The  fact  is  never  absent  from  my 
mind,"  she  said,  "and  though  he  has 
been  thus  far  mercifully  preserved, 
and  has  been  a  wonder  of  valor  and 
daring,  I  cannot  but  fear  that  Claude's 
words  will  come  true,  and  that  papa 
will  rue  the  day  he  consented  to  allow 
Rufus  to  join  the  army.  He  was  so 
young,  and  is  still  so  young,  to  view 
the  bloody  scenes  which  have  passed 
before  him  from  Gettysburg  until 
now.  Poor  boy,  poor  darling !  I 
would  give  the  world  to  see  him  safely 
home. " 

She  saw  him  soon,  but  alas,  not 
safe.  The  gallant  boy,  the  proud, 
handsome  young  soldier,  returned  to 
the  home  he  had  left  so  gaily,  a  shat- 
tered cripple,  shot  through  both  hips 
in  the  defense  of  Petersburg,  and  con- 
ducted home  by  his  cousin  Claude, 
during  a  lull  in  the  mighty  tempest 
of  battle  that  was  raging.  Ah,  it  was 
a  pitiful  sight  to  see  him  carried  upon 
a  litter  into  the  house,  followed  by  his 
stricken  father,  his  weeping  mother, 
and  younger  sister  and  brother,  and 
preceded  by  his  cousin  and  his  sister 
Adela,  who,  struck  to  the  very  heart, 
could  give  no  expression  to  her  grief, 
and  who  knew  at  that  crisis  she  must 
not  allow  it  to  prostrate  her. 

"I  have  come  home  to  die;"  so 


In  Bonds. 


whispered  the  poor  lad  again  and 
again,  manfully  striving  to  keep  back 
the  groans  of  anguish  that  would 
come. 

None  dared  to  hope  that  he  was 
mistaken,  Death  was  written  on  his 
face  so  plainly.  Amid  all  their  grief 
they  wondered  how  he  had  survived 
the  frightful  wound  so  long.  Claude 
told  them  how  it  had  been  received, 
when  he  rushed  to  the  top  of  a  breast- 
work to  replace  a  flag  that  had  been 
swept  down  by  the  enemy's  fire.  It 
was  strange  and  touching  to  see  how 
tenderly  he  bent  over  the  dying  boy, 
interpreting  instantly  every  glance  and 
faintly  uttered  word,  and  with  his  own 
hands  administering  to  his  wants 
more  gently  than  the  most  tender 
woman  that  stood  beside  his  bed. 

From  the  sick  chamber  Aunt  Ma- 
tilda and  Mrs.  Holmes  were  exclud- 
ed— the  one  because  of  her  violent 
indignation  against  the  authors  of  the 
mischief,  and  even  against  the  poor 
lad  himself,  for  so  recklessly  hasten- 
ing into  danger,  and  the  other  because 
of  her  uncontrollable  outbursts  of 
grief.  Even  Minna  was  quieter,  and 
sat  for  hours  weeping  silently  beside 
her  brother,  and  watching  every  look 
and  movement  of  Adela  in  attending 
the  dying  boy.  It  was  a  strange  sight 
to  see  those  three,  kindred  by  blood, 
yet  aliens  at  heart,  the  woman  and 
the  man,  bending  together  in  present 
sympathy,  over  that  couch  of  pain, 
consulting  together  in  whispers,  stand- 
ing side  by  side,  their  hand  often  hur- 
riedly meeting  as  they  reached  for 
some  wanted  article,  and  yet  to  know 
that  outside  of  that  room  all  such  in- 
tercourse would  be  abhorred,  at  least 
by  two,  and  that  the  third  would  give 
the  world. to  even  touch  the  hand  he 


now  was  suffered  to   hold  in  a  firm 
grasp  to  raise  the  dying  boy. 

The  presence  of  death  makes  many 
changes.  It  seemed  so  then,  when 
for  a  long  night  and  day  those  three 
toiled  and  grieved  together,  and  when, 
at  last,  in  the  still  eventide  stood  at 
one  side  of  the  couch  whence  the 
spirit  of  Rufus  Holmes  was  striving 
to  depart.  They  knew  that  the  hour 
was  at  hand  when  rest  for  the  tortured 
body  would  come,  and  had  bidden 
his  father  and  mother  to  bid  him 
farewell. 

He  knew  that  he  was  dying,  and 
tried  to  tell  them  so  calmly,  but 
broke  into  a  shuddering  wail :  "So 
young,  so  young. " 

His  father  groaned  in  the  bitter- 
ness of  his  spirit :  "Oh,  Rufus,  my 
son,  can  you  forgive  me  for  allowing 
you  to  sacrifice  yourself?  " 

The  boy's  eyes  flashed,  and  a  mo- 
mentary gleam  of  passion  and  strength 
passed  over  his  face  as  he  answered  : 
"Don't  say  that  it  is  a  sacrifice,  fa- 
ther. I  should  be  glad  to  die  if  I 
thought  by  so  doing  I  could  help  the 
cause,  but  I  wanted  to  live  to  fight 
for  it,  and  now  I  am  dying,  so  young 
and  with  so  little  done." 

His  mother  burst  into  such  a  par- 
oxysm of  weeping  that  Claude  was 
obliged  to  lead  her  from  the  room. 
Rufus  detained  her  face  a  moment 
to  kiss  her  grieving  lips,  and  beg  her 
not  to  grieve  for  him  ;  she  had  still  a 
son  left,  who  had  always  been  much 
better  than  he. " 

He  talked  but  little  after  that,  but 
simply  asked  them  to  kiss  him.  They 
did  so,  bursting  into  irrepressible 
tears  as  their  lips  met  those  so  lately 
full  of  youthful  life,  now  fast  growing 
cold  in  the  awful  chill  of  death. 


In  Bonds. 


217 


La  Guerita  was  the  last  to  approach 
him.  He  had  never  been  a  favorite 
with  her  ;  he  had  been  an  unman- 
ageable and  careless  pupil,  and  had 
caused  her  to  feel  much  of  the  pain 
of  her  early  servitude.  But  she  forgot 
all  that — forgot  all  but  his  heroism, 
his  devotion  to  his  cause,  his  patient 
suffering  and  his  near  departure,  as 
she  bent  over  him  to  give  her  first 
and  last  caress.  But  all  that  he  had 
been  to  her  seemed  then  to  flash  up- 
on his  mind. 

"Dear  Rita,"  he  whispered,  "I 
want  you  to  forgive  me.  I  was  very 
hard  on  you  when  you  first  came 
here  ;  I  want  to  do  something  to 
atone  for  that." 

* '  Dear  Rufus,  it  is  all  forgotten, 
all  forgiven, "  she  answered,  with  tears. 
' '  Don't  let  it  distress  you  ;  it  is  all 
past,  you  know." 

' '  Rita, "  he  whispered,  in  so  faint 
a  voice  that  she  had  to  bend  very  low 
to  hear  it,  "don't  you  want  to  be 
free  ?  You  ought  to  be  free. " 

"Rufus,  don't  trouble  yourself 
about  that.  I  shall  be  freed  in  the 
Lord's  good  time. 

' '  Pa, "  he  said,  with  sudden  ener- 
gy, "I  want  you  to  free  Rita  and 
Harold.  Cousin  Claude,  remind  him 
of  it  when  I  am  gone,  and  take  care 
of  her.  Light  a  candle — it  is  very 
dark." 

Alas,  the  candles  were  lighted,  and 
it  was  the  darkness  of  death  that  fell 
upon  Rufus  Holmes.  Adela's  cour- 
age gave  way  at  that  moment,  and  it 
was  La  Guerita  who  bent  forward 
and  whispered  : 

"  Though  I  walk  through  the  val- 
ley of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear 
no  evil,  for  Thou  art  with  me  ;  Thy 
rod  and  Thy  staff  they  comfort  me. " 
28 


The  dying  boy  smiled  and  whis- 
pered, brokenly,  "It  is  getting  light." 

Then  there  was  a  short  struggle, 
and  in  the  arms  of  Claude  Leveredge 
and  La  Guerita  DeCuba,  those  two 
so  strangely  brought  together,  that 
the  young  hero  heaved  his  last  sigh, 
and  took  up  the  palms  of  everlasting 
peace. 

They  laid  him  gently  back  upon 
the  pillow,  and  thought  of  each  other 
for  the  first  time  then.  Death  had 
passed,  and  with  him  the  magic  of 
his  presence.  Claude  Leveredge  be- 
came, in  an  instant,  to  La  Guerita 
the  man  she  dreaded  more  than  all 
the  powers  of  earth  ;  and  she,  the 
woman  he  would  barter  heaven  to 
win. 

He  told  her  that,  in  a  few  impas- 
sioned words,  when  he  left  the  side  of 
the  dead  boy  and  followed  her  into 
the  garden ;  but  she  bade  him  be 
silent  in  such  a  tone  of  horror  that 
he  could  not  but  obey  her.  Yet  still 
he  followed  her  to  the  door  of  her 
cabin,  detaining  her  in  his  iron  grasp 
when  she  would  have  entered,  and 
crying,  passionately,  that  there  never 
was  love  so  strong  as  his,  and  en- 
treating her  to  grant  the  last  wish  of 
the  dead  boy,  and  let  him  shelter  her 
from  all  pain. 

' '  I  cannot !  I  cannot !  "  she  ex- 
claimed— not  desperately,  but  with  a 
voice,  of  such  high  determination 
that  all  the  hope  he  had  for  years, 
through  all  her  coldness  cherished, 
died  out  of  his  soul.  Yet  he  strove 
with  her — wildly  painting  his  love 
and  despair — describing,  in  words 
that  made  her  heart  stand  still  with 
anguish,  the  loneliness  of  her  child, 
and  his  future  doom. 

All   was  useless ;   she  could  not 


218 


In  Bonds. 


yield,  a  higher  power  than  her  own 
sustaining  her.  It  appeared  to  her- 
self, and  to  her  desperate  lover,  that 
she  was  but  passively  enacting  the 
will  of  an  all-powerful  being,  who 
would  not  suffer  her  to  be  moved. 

' '  La  Guerita  DeCuba, "  he  cried, 
at  length,  "you  were  a  woman  once, 
as  weak  and  fickle  as  any  of  the  sex  ; 
now  you  are  an  enthusiast,  pursuing 
the  chimera  of  duty — cold,  passion- 
less, and  immovable,  as  if  no  mortal 
fire  had  ever  lived  within  you.  I 
know  now  that  you  are  dead  to  me 
— dead  to  all  love  ;  even  that  holy 
flame  that  burns  within  a  mother's 
heart.  I  have  told  you  that  your 
child  is  in  the  power  of  one  that  will 
crush  him  forever  beneath  the  heavi- 
est chains  of  slavery  ever  worn  by 
man,  yet  you  will  not  stretch  forth  a 
hand  to  save  him. " 

"I  cannot!"  she  cried,  with  an 
expression  of  resignation  almost  sub- 
lime ;  "I  cannot !  but  he  is  in  God's 
hands. " 

He  laughed,  in  a  hollow,  mocking 
way,  that  was  terrible  to  hear.  La 
Guerita  turned  from  him  in  horror  ; 
but  he  held  her  back,  looking  into 
her  face  with  a  grim  smile  and  say- 
ing :  ' '  You  are  pale  ;  you  are  hag- 
gard ;  you  are  dying.  Ah,  yes ! 
there  is  still  enough  of  woman's  na- 
ture left  in  you  to  die,  and  I  tell  you, 
you  are  dying. " 

The  words  seemed  more  like  a 
curse  than  a  prophesy.  She  stagger- 
ed back  from  him,  and  faintly  said  : 

' '  You  are  keeping  my  child  from 
me  !  " 

' '  You  are  asking  me  for  your 
life, "  he  said,  ' '  and  are  asking  your 
child's ;  but  in  vain.  Let  your  hopes 
die,  as  mine  have  died  to-night ;  you 


will  never  see  your  child  again  ;  you 
will  never  be  free.  Let  your  hopes 
die,  I  say,  as  mine  have  done,  and 
your  misery  endure,  as  my  vengeance 
will." 

It  was  little  wonder  that  she  totter- 
ed into  her  cabin  when  he  left  her, 
and  for  hours  lay  prostrate  on  her 
bed,  entirely  overcome  by  his  awful 
words,  and  the  tone  in  which  they 
were  spoken.  His  words,  his  look, 
his  gestures,  haunted  her  through  all 
the  night,  filling  her  mind  with  im- 
ages of  terror,  which  she  almost  fear- 
ed would  drive  the  light  of  reason 
thence. 

When  the  morning  came  she  was 
in  a  high  state  of  fever,  and  much 
too  ill  to  rise.  It  was  then  that  the 
grief  and  anxiety  of  the  last  year  re- 
vealed the  havoc  they  had  made  upon 
her.  When  the  fever  passed,  she 
could  not  rise  from  her  bed.  Her 
energy  was  gone,  and  it  became  ap- 
parent to  all  that  her  hold  on  life  was 
each  day  growing  weaker. 

Her  form  was  but  a  shadow  of  its 
former  self.  Never  in  her  great  mis- 
ery had  she  been  so  haggard  and 
wan.  Never  had  her  eyes  shone  with 
such  painful  brilliancy. 

Miss  Holmes  marked  with  amaze- 
ment the  deep  and  holy  resignation 
with  which  she  spoke  of  her  ap- 
proaching fate. 

' '  The  hand  of  God  seems  to  work 
so  slowly, "  she  sometimes  said,  ' '  that 
I  cannot  even  hope  that  Death  will 
find  me  before  Freedom  ;  but  it  will 
not  be  so  with  my  child.  I  know  it 
will  not  be  so.  God  will  give  him 
his  birthright,  even  though  he  suffer- 
ed me  to  take  it  from  him." 

With  faltering  lips  they  often  tried 
to  cheer  her.  Even  Mrs.  Holmes 


In  Bonds. 


219 


awoke  to  a  vague  sense  of  what  the 
self-enslaved  woman  had  suffered, 
and  promised  her  that  even  if  Mr. 
Holmes  heeded  not  the  request  of 
his  dying  son,  that  she  would  do  so, 
and  that  she  and  her  child  should 
again  be  free. 

Miss  Matilda,  too,  noticed,  with  a 
strange  mixture  of  vexation  and  sym- 
pathy, how  frail  she  was  growing, 
and  in  some  sort  of  awe  of  the  death 
she  believed  so  near,  treated  La  Gue- 
rita  with  a  consideration  most  unu- 
sual to  her,  and  quite  wonderful  to 
those  who  for  years  had  looked  for 
such  an  exhibition  of  tenderness  in 
vain. 

Of  all  upon  the  plantation,  there 
was,  perhaps,  but  one  that  through- 
out the  summer  and  autumn  of  1864 
failed  to  perceive  the  terrible  effect 
the  loss  of  her  child  had  had  upon 
La  Guerita. 

That  one  was  her  master,  Norton 
Holmes,  who,  since  the  death  of  his 
son  Rufus  had  noticed  nothing  ;  his 
faculties  seemed  paralyzed.  He  sat 
all  day  long  in  his  library  in  a  sort 
of  stupor,  from  which  nought  but 
news  from  the  war  could  arouse  him, 
and  that  excited  him  to  such  frenzy 
that  his  friends  were  careful  never  to 
mention  the  subject  in  his  presence. 

It  was  sorrowful  to  view  this  strick- 
en man  ;  not  old,  yet  bearing  all  the 
infirmities,  both  bodily  and  mentally, 
of  extreme  age — indifferent  to  all 
passing  things — dead  to  all  passions 
and  emotions,  save  those  aroused  by 
the  mention  of  that  cause  for  which 
he  had  risked  and  lost  so  much. 

When  Christmas  came  the  family 
invited  many  of  his  old  friends  to 
visit  Holmsford,  hoping  thereby  to 
arouse  and  enliven  his  mind.  They 


had  been  carefully  entreated  not  to 
mention  the  ever-recurring,  all-ab- 
sorbing subject  of  war  before  him  ; 
and  all,  without  exception,  abstained 
from  doing  so.  On  the  last  day  of 
their  stay,  however,  Mr.  Holmes, 
.  having  fallen  asleep  upon  the  sofa  in 
the  parlor,  the  guests  repaired  to  the 
study  to  smoke,  and  soon  fell  into  an 
animated  discussion  of  the  proscribed 
topic.  All  were  unanimous  in  their 
detestation  of  the  Northerners,  but 
divided  in  their  estimation  of  their 
power — many  believing  that  Sher- 
man's march  through  the  South 
would  be  successfully  accomplished, 
and  even  Richmond  be  forced  to 
yield  to  the  thousands  surrounding 
it.  Mr.  Gordon  loudly  scouted  the 
idea  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  their  ex- 
citement all  failed  to  perceive  that 
Mr.  Holmes  had  entered,  and  was 
listening  eagerly  to  all  that  was  said. 

"I,  for  my  part,  should  not  be 
surprised  to  behold  this  very  country 
in  possession  of  the  enemy  before 
another  sunrise,"  said  Mr.  Russell, 
at  last ;  "I  tell  you  that  the  power 
of  the  Confederacy  is  melting  away, 
and  I  greatly  fear  that  our  peaceful 
fields  will  be  trodden  by  the  invader, 
and  our  homes  ruthlessly  despoiled, 
as  those  of  our  brethren  have  been. " 

' '  Then  God  grant  that  I  may  not 
live  to  see  it !  "  cried  Mr.  Holmes, 
with  sudden  energy,  his  eyes  flashing 
and  with  uplifted  hands,  grieving  with 
emotion  ;  "I  have  suffered  enough 
from  the  vandal  hordes.  If  there  is 
mercy  in  heaven,  I  pray  that  it  will 
be  shown  me  at  least  as  far  as  to  keep 
me  from  sight  or  hearing  of  the  mur- 
derers of  my  son — the  cursed  de- 
stroyers of  my  peace. " 

The   mercy    he    so    passionately 


220 


In  Bonds. 


craved  was  granted  him.  Early  in 
the  new  year,  Norton  Holmes  found 
a  hiding  place  from  the  coming  foe 
beside  his  son,  in  the  great  church- 
yard. 

A  few  days  after  his  decease  his  will 
was  opened  and  read.  To  the  sur- 
prise of  his  family,  it  was  discovered 
that  his  estate  was  heavily  mortgaged, 
and  that  the  greater  portion  of  his 
property  had  been  disposed  of  in  the 
cause  of  secession,  and  the  remain- 
der left  to  his  wife  and  children. 
Claude  Leveredge  was  appointed 
sole  executor.  By  a  codicil,  he  re- 
stored freedom  to  La  Guerita  and  her 
child,  directing  that  they  should  be 
committed  to  the  care  of  his  daugh- 
ter Adela,  until  they  could  return  to 
their  lawful  guardians. 

This  codicil  surprised  them  all,  for 
it  was  dated  on  the  evening  of  Ru- 
ms' death,  when  and  after  which  they 
had  believed  him  incapable  of  per- 
forming even  the  most  trivial  act. 
The  news  of  her  freedom  seemed  for 
a  short  time  to  arouse  and  strengthen 
La  Guerita,  who,  in  the  fullness  of  her 
heart,  thanked  the  Lord  that  her  child 
was  free,  and  thus  openly  declared 
throughout  the  land,  and  that  even 
she  was  thus  graciously  permitted  to 
cast  away  her  bonds,  if  but  for  an 
hour  or  a  moment. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  greatly  disgusted 
at  what  he  termed  the  deplorable 
weakness  of  his  deceased  friend,  and 
was  in  his  heart  delighted  ?o  know 

that  La  Guerita  could  not  receive  the 

• 

symbols  of  her  freedom  until  the  es- 
tate was  settled,  and  that,  he  knew, 
would  not  be  for  many  months,  for 
the  executor  remained  throughout  in 
Richmond,  both  unable  and  un- 
willing to  leave.  But  though  in  the 


eyes  of  the  lawyer,  to  La  Guerita 
the  papers  of  emancipation  were 
nothing  ;  it  was  enough  for  her  to 
know  if  she  died,  or  lived  to  meet 
those  she  so  dearly  loved,  it  would 
not  be  with  the  shameful  bonds  ot 
self-enslavement  upon  her. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

"  Lives  there  a  sound  more  grateful  to  the  ear 
Of  Him  who  made  all  Harmony, 
Than  the  blessed  sound  of  fetters  breaking, 
And  the  first  hymn  that  man,  awaking — 
From  Slavery's  slumber,  breathes  to  Liberty  f" 
T.  Moore. 

"  That  sound  bespeaks  salvation  on  her  way." 

IT  was  March ;  and  as  La  Guerita 
lay  upon  her  humble  couch,  and 
gazed  through  the  window  of  her 
cabin  across  the  bleak  fields  to  the 
dark  pine  woods  which  waved  beyond, 
it  appeared  to  her  sad  eyes  the  most 
desolate  scene  upon  which  they  had 
ever  rested.  A  drizzling  rain  was 
falling,  through  which  the  uprisings  of 
the  sodden  e&rth  appeared  more  like 
darksome  shadows  than  tangible  ob- 
jects, and  the  sky,  a  frightful  cloud 
that  no  sunshine  would  ever  have 
power  to  dispel.  It  was  a  day  for 
tears,  and  La  Guerita  felt  it  to  be  so, 
and  wondered  whether  a  day  for 
smiles  would  ever  dawn  for  her  on 
earth. 

She  felt  that  she  was  dying,  that 
the  separation  from  her  child  was 
wearing  away  her  life  by  slowest  tor- 
ture. 

"They  think  I  am  dying — as  my 
mother  did — of  consumption,"  she 
thought;  "but  no;  it  is  no  bodily 
disease  that  is  hurrying  me  to  my 
grave,  but  my  heart  is  breaking  ;  I 
cannot  live  apart  from  my  boy.  My 
heart  is  breaking  !  " 


In  Bonds. 


221 


Sometimes  she  bethought  herself, 
and  tried  to  rise  above  her  grief,  but 
she  could  not ;  it  crushed  her  to  the 
very  earth.  Claude  Leveredge  had 
indeed  placed  his  hand  on  the  vital 
point,  and  slowly  she  was  yielding  be- 
neath the  agony  of  his  relentless  grasp. 

Strange  it  was,  that  through  all  her 
anxiety  for  her  boy,  she  was  content 
to  leave  him.  ' '  When  I  am  gone, 
she  thought, ' '  Claude  Leveredge  will 
give  him  up  to  Adela,  and  she  will 
see  that  all  his  rights  are  restored  to 
him." 

At  that  moment,  she  saw  Miss 
Holmes  hurrying  through  the  rain. 
In  a  few  moments  she  entered  the 
cabin,  and  in  surprise,  La  Guerita 
exclaimed  : 

' '  How  could  you  venture  out  in 
this  weather,  Miss  Adela?  What 
has  happened  ? " 

Oh,  the  most  glorious  thing, "  ejac- 
ulated Miss  Holmes,  throwing  off 
her  waterproof  cloak,  and,  to  La  Gu- 
erita's  amazement,  casting  her  arms 
around  her  and  bursting  into  tears. 
Happy  tears  she  saw  they  were,  and 
Miss  Holmes  next  explained  why 
they  were  shed. 

' '  The  news  has  just  arrived  that 
the  Union  troops  crossed  the  Pedee 
the  night  before  last !  La  Guerita, 
the  hour  of  our  deliverence  is  at 
hand.  The  Northerners  will  be  here 
within  a  week  !  " 

Who  can  describe  the  deep,  almost 
sacred  joy,  that  filled  those  two  faith- 
ful hearts. 

Confusion  reigned  through  all  the 
country  ;  terror  filled  every  mind  but 
theirs,  and  though  they  dared  not  yet 
even  openly  express  their  happiness, 
unto  God  it  was  poured  forth  in  a 
ceaseless  tide  of  thanksgiving. 


Miss  Holmes  had  in  her  zeal  ac- 
celerated the  movements  of  the  ad- 
vancing host  by  nearly  two  weeks. 
It  was  on  the  first  of  April  that  they 
beheld  the  pioneers  of  the  army, 
whose  coming  they  had  hoped  and 
prayed  for  so  long.  Was  ever  an 
April  day  so  glorious  as  that  when 
they  first  heard  the  soul-inspiring  airs 
of  victory  and  freedom,  and  beheld 
the  colors  of  the  Union  floating 
proudly  on  the  balmy  air  ? 

At  Holmsford,  the  soldiers  invol- 
untarily felt  themselves  welcome,  at 
least  to  the  fairest  and  most  potent 
member  of  the  family,  and  neither 
their  persons  or  their  goods  and  chat- 
tels were  in  any  way  molested.  On 
the  day  of  their  arrival,  Adela  had  in 
a  few  words  revealed  her  sentiments 
to  the  leader  of  the  party,  and  all 
gave  three  hearty  cheers  for  the  fair 
loyalist. 

At  that  moment,  Miss  Matilda, 
who  had  upon  the  Union  victories  de- 
clared herself  an  unyielding  seces- 
sionist, appeared  upon  the  scene, 
and  much  to  the  alarm  of  Mrs. 
Holmes,  and  the  amazement  of  Ade- 
la, cast  looks  of  direst  hatred  upon 
the  soldiers. 

1 '  I  just  knew  this  was  a  goin'  to 
happen, "  she  exclaimed,  loudly  ;  "I 
just  knew  this  Yankee  horde  were  a 
comin'  to  trample  down  all  the  rose 
bushes,  when  I've  been  thinkin'  all 
winter  they  would  yield  sich  heaps  of 
leaves  to  send  to  our  poor,  sick  de- 
fenders. I  told  them  they  must  be 
sick  when  they  went  to  defend  us. 
I  just  knew  that  they  was  a  comin'. 
Dixie's  been  prognosticatin'  it  all 
day,  and  just  now  I  found  him  a 
whirlin'  and  a  whirlin'  round  and 
round  as  if  he  was  crazy,  which,  the 


222 


In  Bonds. 


Lord   knows,    it's   a   mercy   we    all 
ain't. " 

The  soldiers  burst  into  a  hearty 
laugh,  evidently  considering  that  she 
at  least,  was  not  very  sane  ;  upon 
which  she  proceeded,  as  she  said,  to 
give  them  a  piece  of  her  mind,  which 
she  continued  at  intervals  throughout 
the  day. 

Another  fortnight  passed,  full  of 
welcome  excitement  to  La  Guerita, 
which  reached  her  even  upon  her 
weary  couch,  and  also  of  sickening 
pain,  for  from  the  time  she  had  heard 
of  the  entrance  of  the  Union  troops 
into  North  Carolina,  she  had  encour- 
aged the  hope  that  her  brother,  or 
Victor  DeGrey  would  be  with  them, 
and  would,  by  a  kind  Providence,  be 
led  to  the  spot  in  which  she  was. 
Miss  Holmes  confessed  to  a  lesser 
degree  of  disappointment  in  regard 
to  Thornton  Leslie,  though  she 
would  not  allow  one  thought  of  his 
safety  to  cloud  her  joy,  and  remarked 
philosophically,  that  he  could  not  be 
expected  to  leave  his  regiment  at  such 
a  time,  simply  to  hasten  to  her.  But 
she  knew  in  her  heart  that  he  would 
do  so  at  his  earliest  possible  oppor- 
tunity. 

Soon  came  the  tidings  of  the  fall 
of  Richmond,  putting  a  climax  up- 
on the  triumph  of  the  Union  forces. 

The  news  filled  the  heart  of  La 
Guerita  with  many  conflicting  emo- 
tions. Joy  for  a  moment  prevailed, 
and  then  the  thought  of  her  child 
rushed  over  her.  Where  was  he  ? 
Doubtless  Claude  Leveredge  had 
sought  safety  in  flight,  as  many  of  his 
comrades  had  done.  Would  he  not 
strive  to  leave  the  country,  to  hasten 
to  Europe,  and  take  Harold  with 
him  ?  The  doubt  became  to  her  al- 


most a  certainty.     It  was 
— almost  maddening. 

"O,  God,"  she  moaned,  "have 
I  borne  so  much  only  to  die  on  the 
very  threshold  of  my  happiness." 

One  day  she  sat  up  in  bed,  and 
strove  to  write  a  letter  to  her  brother. 
The  sight  of  his  name  opened  the 
floods  of  her  heart ;  she  could  not 
proceed,  and  burying  her  face  on  the 
pillow,  she  wept  bitterly. 

Suddenly  the  door  opened  ;  she 
looked  up.  An  officer  stood  on  the 
step.  She  sprang  from  the  bed,  and 
with  a  scream  of  joy,  fell  fainting  in- 
to the  arms  of  her  brother. 

His  kisses,  his  words  of  endear- 
ment, and  his  fast-falling  tears, 
brought  her  back  to  a  sense  of  the 
great  joy  that  was  hers. 

' '  Oh,  Fabean,  my  brother,  you 
have  saved  me,"  she  cried  ;  "Thank 
God,  I  have  seen  you  once  more." 

The  scene  that  ensued  can  per- 
haps be  more  easily  imagined  than 
described.  For  a  moment,  all  else  was 
forgotten  in  the  bliss  of  again  be- 
holding her  brother,  who  exclaimed  : 

' '  Thank  God,  indeed,  that  I  have 
found  you  once  more,  my  sister. 
Ah,  La  Guerita,  He  alone  can  know 
what  I  have  suffered  because  of  you 
— and  what  agonies  you,  too,  have 
endured  to  save  me  from  the  shame 
of  our  parents  !  " 

' '  Then  you  know  all, "  she  ejacu- 
lated, ineffably  relieved  to  discover 
that  she  was  spared  the  task  of  mak- 
ing the  disclosure. 

' '  Yes,  Claude  Leveredge  told  me 
all  upon  his  death-bed." 

She  started  up  trembling,  yet  strong 
with  hope  : 

' '  And  did  he  tell  you  where  to 
find  my  child,"  she  cried;  "Oh, 


In  Bonds. 


223 


Fabean,  brother,   have  you  brought 
me  back  my  boy  ?  " 

She  was  answered  at  the  moment. 
The    door   flew   open,  and    Harold 
— taller,  paler,  yet  all  her  own,  rush- 
ed into  the  cabin,  and  threw  himself 
upon  her  bosom. 

"  Oh,  gracious  Father,  this  is  too 
much  joy,  she  murmured.  "  My 
brother,  my  child,  both  given  back  to 
me.  Oh,  how  great  is  Thy  mercy. " 

"We  praise  Thee,  we  worship, 
we  glorify  Thee !  "  added  Fabean, 
reverently,  and  sinking  upon  his 
knees  offered  unto  God  such  thanks- 
giving as  never  before  had  been 
echoed  from  those  cabin  walls. 

After  Harold  had  gone  to  tell  the 
story  of  his  joy  to  his  beloved  Miss 
Adela,  the  reunited  brother  and  sister 
sat  together  ;  they  spoke  not  much 
of  the  past,  that  was  too  full  of  pain 
to  be  contemplated  then,  but  of  the 
peaceful  future  which  they  had  hoped 
to  share  together. 

' '  I  was  dying  ;  yes,  dying !  "  ex- 
claimed La  Guerita,  "but  now  I 
shall  live.  For  this  joy,  thank  God, 
is  tempered  so  that  it  will  not  kill. 
But,  my  poor  Fabean,  you  are  maim- 
ed— your  right  arm  is  gone  !  " 

"Yes,"  he  said,  quietly  ;  "that I 
lost  at  that  famous  battle  at  which 
Thornton  Leslie  was  taken  prisoner. 
Ah,  now  I  see  that  you  were  the 
wonderful  slave  that  rescued  him 
from  a  fate  worse  than  death  itself. 
I  wonder  that  we  never  thought  of 
that  in  the  thousand  times  we  have 
talked  of  it  and  you. " 

' '  Where  is  Thornton  ;  is  he  quite 
safe  and  well  ?  "  she  inquired,  anx- 
iously. 

'  •  He  was  both,  as  far  as  a  soldier 
can  be,  when  I  saw  him  last ;  it  was 


on  the  glorious  day  we  entered  Rich- 
mond. We  are  on  different  branches 
of  the  service.  I,  strangely  enough, 
am  the  colonel  of  a  colored  regi- 
ment. Something  led  me  to  solicit 
the  post.  My  friends  will  think  it 
was  blind  instinct  when  they  hear 
all." 

He  spoke  with  some  bitterness, 
and  La  Guerita  bent  her  head  low, 
as  she  whispered  : 

1 '  Oh,  Fabean,  can  you  bear  that 
shame,  or  must  my  fears  be  realized  ? 
Will  it  madden  you  as  it  did  me  ? " 

"No,  no,"  he  answered,  gravely  ; 
"the  name  of  Fabean  DeCuba  is 
honored  wherever  I  am  known,  and 
I  will  so  live  as  to  compel  respect  for 
you  and  myself,  in  spite  of  all  adverse 
circumstances.  Yet  think  not  that  I 
count  the  shame  lightly.  I  know 
what  it  will  do  for  us  ;  I  know  what 
it  did  for  me  years  ago,  for  she  must 
have  known." 

La  Guerita  shuddered. 

1 '  Oh,  Fabean,  Fabean, "  she  mur- 
mured, ' '  did  you  then  love  her  ?  " 

1 '  No,  'twas  but  a  boyish  passion 
that  I  had  for  her — unworthy  of  the 
sacred  name  of  love.  Yet  if  I  had 
loved  her  with  unconquerable  devo- 
tion she  would  have  cast  me  off;  be- 
cause I  had  in  my  veins  that  cursed 
thing — a  drop  of  negro  blood  !  Well, 
I  cannot  blame  her  ;  we,  in  her 
place,  should  have  done  the  same 
thing  ;  and,  at  any  rate,  I  should 
have  married  her  with  a  breaking 
heart,  and  perhaps  have  broken 
hers,  while  she .  is  now  happy  with 
another. " 

La  Guerita  sighed  ;  she  saw  that 
some  barb  rankled  in  his  heart,  even 
if  it  had  not  been  cast  there  by  Carrie 
Leslie.  But  she  saw  that  it  was  not 


224 


In   Bonds. 


yet  to  be  revealed  to  her,  and  striving 
to  put  the  thought  aside,  she  gave 
herself  up  to  the  joy  of  being  once 
more  with  her  brother  and  her  child. 
It  was  soon  to  be  perceived  that 
her  illness  had  been  indeed  that  of 
the  mind.  Joy  gave  her  strength, 
and  in  a  few  days  she  even  sat  up  for 
an  hour  or  two,  and  feebly  interested 
herself  in  the  womanly  pursuits  she 
had  for  months  entirely  neglected. 

CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

"  Men  must  die — one  dies  by  day,  and   near  him 

moans  his  mother; 
They   dig   his    grave,  head  it  down,  and  go  from 

it  full  loath ! 

And  one   dies  about  the  midnight,  and  the   wind 
moans — and  no  other." 

Jean  Ingelow. 

Miss  HOLMES  was  scarcely  less 
thankful  and  rejoiced  at  the  coming 
of  Fabean  and  Harold  than  was  La 
Guerita  herself;  yet,  as  days  passed 
on,  she  could  not  repress  a  sigh  that 
her  own  loved  one  tarried  so  long. 
Could  it  be  that  at  the  very  last  he  had 
been  stricken  down  ?  The  thought 
haunted  her,  chilling  her  very  heart, . 
and  throwing  a  deep  shade  of  sad- 
ness upon  her  countenance,  which 
even  her  participation  in  the  content- 
ment of  La  Guerita  could  not  banish. 

But,  like  magic,  it  flew  when,  at 
the  close  of  the  last  day  in  April,  a 
horseman  galloped  up  the  road,  and 
Fabean  sprang  to  his  feet,  exclaim- 
ing :  ' '  Thornton  at  last !  " 

She  could  not  restrain  herself;  she 
ran  down  the  garden  path  and  met 
him  at  the  gate.  He  sprang  from  his 
horse  and  clasped  her  in  his  arms. 
That  moment  was  one  of  sacred  joy. 
When  it  had  passed,  and  he  had 
leisure  to  think  of  another  than  Ade- 
la,  he  recognized  Fabean. 


"How  in  the  world  came  you 
here  ? "  he  cried,  in  amazement ; 
' '  what  business  have  you  away  from 
your  regiment  ?  No  one  could  tell 
me  where  you  had  vanished  to  ;  and 
now  to  think  of  you  being  here. " 

'  *  I  will  show  you  just  cause  for  it 
presently,"  returned  Fabean,  gaily, 
as  Thornton  asked  for  the  slave  Rita. 

To  his  intense  astonishment  he 
was  led  into  the  presence  of  the 
long-lost  Mrs.  DeGrey.  His  ecstacy 
knew  no  bounds.  He  could  find 
no  words  in  which  to  express  his 
joy  and  gratitude ;  and  after  vainly 
attempting  to  declare  both,  he  turned 
to  Miss  Holmes  and  exclaimed,  re- 
proachfully : 

"Why  did  you  not  tell  me,  Adela  ? 
Why  did  you  allow  me  to  remain  in 
ignorance  of  so  important  a  matter? " 

' '  I  will  tell  you  when  you  have 
leisure  to  hear, "  interposed  Fabean, 
gently  pushing  him  from  the  room, 
whence  he  was  followed  by  Adela, 
looking  somewhat  downcast  at  his 
hasty  speech — seeing  which,  Thorn- 
ton applied  himself  to  the  pleasant 
task  of  bringing  smiles  to  the  face 
he  had  clouded. 

It  was  no  difficult  task.  "She  is 
an  angel !  "  he  enthusiastically  ex- 
claimed to  Fabean,  as  they  paced  the 
garden  path  together  late  in  the  even- 
ing, smoking  their  cigars  and  inhal- 
ing the  perfumes  of  the  fresh  May 
flowers.  "She  is  an  angel  worth 
waiting  for  another  five  years.  Thank 
God,  it  need  not  be  so  many  months ! 
But,  Fabean,  how  came  you  to  meet 
Claude  Leveredge  ?  And  is  it  true 
that  he  gave  you  the  information 
which  led  you  to  seek  your  sister 
here?" 

' '  It  is,  indeed,  true, "  replied  Fa- 


In  Bonds. 


225 


bean ;  ' '  I  had  not  been  in  Rich- 
mond four  hours,  when  a  colored 
man  came  up  to  me  and  handed  me 
a  note,  saying  his  master  had  order- 
ed him  to  find  the  —  Colored  Regi- 
ment, and  deliver  the  note  to  the 
colonel.  It  was  addressed  to  me, 
and,  to  my  surprise,  contained  a 
most  urgent  request  that  I  would 
visit  Claude  Leveredge,  who  was  ly- 
ing at  the  point  of  death. 

"I  lost  no  time  in  obeying  the 
summons,  and  early  in  the  evening 
repaired  to  the  house  designated  in 
the  note.  It  was  a  small,  but  hand- 
some villa,  situated  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  city,  and,  by  its  neglected  ap- 
pearance, gave  evidences  of  the  riot- 
ous days  that  had  been  passed  with- 
in it.  I  found  Leveredge  there,  at- 
tended by  a  single  servant — the  one 
who  had  accosted  me.  The  rest, 
upon  the  entrance  of  our  troops,  had 
left  him,  to  live  or  die,  as  the  Lord 
willed. 

' '  Leslie,  I  never  saw  a  man  so  much 
altered  as  was  Claude  Leveredge. 
You  know  he  was,  when  we  knew 
him  so  well,  a  man  of  most  com- 
manding appearance — one  to  com- 
mand the  admiration  of  women,  and 
the  envy  of  men.  How  can  I  de- 
scribe to  you  to  what  he  was  abased  ? 
He  lay  upon  his  bed,  bloated  and 
stupified  with  brandy,  the  fumes  of 
which  filled  the  close  apartment — 
suffering  agonies  from  a  wound  in 
his  right  shoulder — insufficient  in 
itself  to  cause  death,  but  the  pain  of 
which  was  constantly  aggravated  by 
his  frequent  bursts  of  passion  and 
use  of  stimulants. 

1 '  He  raised  himself  upon  his  left 
arm   when   I  was   announced,   and 
looked  at  me  with  a  fixed  stare.     I 
29 


approached  and  offered  my  hand. 
He  took  no  notice  of  it,  but  sank 
back  upon  the  pillow,  still  regarding 
me  with  that  awful  stare.  Supposing 
that  his  mind  was  wandering,  and 
that  he  did  not  know  me,  I  called 
him  by  name,  and  said  :  '  Do  you 
not  know  me  ?  I  am  Fabean  De- 
Cuba — for  whom  you  sent  to-day. ' 

"  '  I  know  it, '  he  said  ;  '  though 
you  have  changed  much.  You  are 
bronzed  by  exposure,  and  look  grave ; 
from  grief,  perhaps  ? ' 

' '  I  made  no  reply,  and  he  pres- 
ently continued  :  '  I  sent  for  you, 
Fabean,  to  make  a  confession.  Only 
to  think  that  of  Claude  Leveredge  ! 
But  he's  dying  now,  you  know.  All 
men  do  strange  things  then. ' 

"I  shuddered  to  hear  the  laugh 
with  which  he  ended.  I  thought 
him  delirious,  and  was  relieved  when 
he  said  : 

"  '  First  tell  me  how  the  city  looks, 
and  how  your  men  are  enjoying  their 
long-sought  triumph. ' 

' '  I  complied,  giving  him  the  in- 
formation he  desired  in  as  few  words 
as  possible.  He  grew  excited  to- 
wards the  close,  and  exclaimed, 
through  his  set  teeth  : 

"'Woe  to  the  conqueror! 
Our  limbs  shall  be  as  cold  as  theirs, 
Of  whom  his  sword  bereft  us, 

E'er  we  forget  the  deep  arrears 
Of  vengeance  they  have  left  us. 
Woe  to  the  conqueror!" 

"'Tom  Moore,  in  these  lines, 
breathed  the  very  spirit  of  the  South, 
Fabean  ! ' 

' '  It  was  terrible  to  me,  Thornton, 
to  hear  that  dying  man  quote  the 
fanciful  words  of  another,  when  he 
had  scarcely  breath  enough  left  to 
breathe  a  last  farewell.  I  think  he 
must  have  seen  something  of  that 


226 


In  Bonds. 


feeling  in  my  face,  for  he  said,  ab- 
ruptly : 

' '  '  Why  do  you  let  me  waste  my 
time  on  such  nonsense  ?  Why  don't 
you  ask  me  why  I  sent  for  you  ? ' 

' '  '  I  do  so  now, '  I  said,  wonder- 
ing greatly  what  reason  he  could 
have  had,  for,  strangely  enough,  no 
suspicion  of  the  truth  entered  my 
mind.  It  seems  incomprehensible 
new  that  we  never  guessed  that  he 
knew  of  her  whereabouts.  I  did, 
indeed,  suppose  that  his  words  would 
relate  to  his  early  love  for  La  Gue- 
rita ;  but  that  she  lived  —  that  he 
knew  her  hiding  place — I  never  for 
a  moment  conjectured.  I  had  be- 
lieved her  dead,  and  could  not  har- 
bor for  one  instant  such  a  thought. 

' '  It  was  some  moments  before  I 
could  believe  it  true,  even  after  the 
dying  man  had  told  me  all.  He 
thought  me  overwhelmed  with  shame; 
but  I  was  not — I  was  not.  All  the 
dreams  I  had  cherished  that  instant 
took  flight  forever ;  though  I  felt 
myself  an  alien  to  all  the  world, 
yet,  with  all,  it  was  not  shame  that 
caused  me  to  drop  into  a  chair  and 
cry  ;  <  O,  God  !  O,  God  ! ' 

"I  saw  it  all — all  my  sister  had 
suffered — all  she  was  suffering  still. 
My  darling,  my  beautiful  sister.  Oh, 
it  was  terrible — terrible  ! 

' '  He  gave  me  a  little  time  to  grow 
calmer,  and  then  told  me  where  she 
could  be  found,  if  she  still  lived. 

1 '  If  she  still  lived  !  Oh,  how  ter- 
rible was  the  thought  that  she  should 
die  alone,  in  her  shackles — even  be- 
fore I  could  behold  her,  and  through 
that  man,  too,  as  her  husband  had 
before  her  ;  for  he  said  boldly,  that 
when  he  found  her  she  was  sane,  and 
eager  to  return  to  her  home  and 


friends,  and  that  he  had  kept  her 
four  years  in  slavery  because  he  loved 
her. 

"  Because  he  loved  her  !  I  almost 
forgot  he  was  dying,  and  might  have 
cursed  him,  but  I  suddenly  remem- 
bered that  my  sister's  child  was  in  his 
possession,  and  demanded  whether 
he  was  in  the  house. 

' '  '  No,  no, '  he  answered  ;  '  antici- 
pating the  evacuation  of  Richmond, 
I  sent  him  to  Raleigh  for  safety. 
You  will  find  him  there,  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  R .' 

' '  He  then  gave  me  the  necessary 
directions  for  finding  him,  and  said, 
in  conclusion  : 

' '  '  The  poor  child  loves  me  ;  he 
begged  me  not  to  send  him  away. 
Ah,  if  I  could  have  foreseen  this  I 
could  not  have  parted  with  him. 
Yet,  perhaps,  it  is  better  as  it  is.  I 
should  not  like  the  only  creature  that 
loves  me  to  see  me  die  like  this. ' 

' '  It  was  wonderful  to  see  how 
his  countenance  softened  when  he 
spoke  of  that  child.  Tears  gathered 
in  his  eyes  and  rolled  slowly  over  his 
cheeks.  He  was  too  weak  to  raise 
his  hand  to  wipe  them  away,  or 
perhaps  even  to  be  conscious  of 
them. 

"  'Ah,  yes/  he  murmured,  'that 
poor  child  will  mourn  for  me.  He, 
at  least,  believes  me  good  and  noble, 
and  loves  me.  Ah,  I  have  deserved 
but  little  love  through  my  life,  and, 
alas,  have  had  but  little  ! ' 

"There  was  something  in  these 
few  words,  spoken  in  a  tone  of  deep- 
est melancholy,  that  subdued  all  my 
anger.  I  knew  by  the  gaze  the  dying 
man  cast  upon  me  that  he  craved 
my  forgiveness,  and  yet,  even  in  that 
solemn  hour,  he  was  too  proud  to 


In  Bonds. 


227 


ask  it.  I  could  not  speak,  though  I 
would  gladly  have  done  so,  as  I  saw 
the  expression  of  despair  that  settled 
upon  his  face.  He  hoarsely  called 
for  brandy,  and  though  I  found  voice 
to  beg  him  not  to  take  it,  it  was  in 
vain.  The  servant  handed  him  some, 
and  he  quaffed  it  eagerly,  as  if  he 
sought  oblivion  in  the  draught — and 
I  quickly  saw  that  death,  if  not  obliv- 
ion, was  drawing  near.  He  sank  into 
a  stupor,  in  which  he  remained  for  an 
hour  or  more.  I  feared  he  would 
die  in  it,  and  the  idea  so  horrified 
me  that  I  forced  between  his  lips  a 
restorative  the  doctor  had  left  on  his 
last  visit. 

' '  After  a  time  he  opened  his  eyes 
and  looked  at  me,  but  the  glaze  of 
death  was  over  them.  Scarcely  know- 
ing what  I  did,  I  muttered  a  prayer, 
such  as  we  have  often  breathed  over 
a  dying  comrade.  I  think  even  in 
his  extremity  it  was  a  comfort  for  him 
to  know  that  a  fellow-creature  stood 
near,  who  took  interest  enough  in 
him  to  utter  a  prayer  for  his  passing 
soul.  I  took  his  hand  in  mine  ;  I 
think,  I  hope  he  took  it  as  a  sign  of 
forgiveness,  for  he  pressed  it  gently. 

"A  few  moments  afterward  his 
lips  moved,  and  he  looked  at  me  ea- 
gerly, oh,  so  eagerly,  as  if  beseeching 
me  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say.  Alas, 
I  could  not.  It  may  have  been  noth- 
ing of  moment,  yet  I  cannot  think  he 
would  have  striven  with  such  mighty 
ardor  to  utter  trivialities. 

He  lay  in  comparative  quietness, 
yet  in  terrible  agony,  until  about  three 
in  the  morning.  All  that  time  I  knew 
he  was  dying,  and  could  not  leave 
him,  though  I  was  imperatively  need- 
ed elsewhere.  Then  he  began  to 
toss  wildly  from  side  to  side,  uttering, 


in  constant  succession,  the  most  un- 
earthly groans.  Never,  never  heard 
I  such  before.  The  memory  of  them 
haunts  me  even  now. 

' '  In  the  midst  of  his  terrible  agony 
the  power  of  speech  suddenly  returned 
to  him.  'Oh,  find  her/  he  cried. 
'Adda!1 

' '  Then  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  me 
wildly,  and  moaned  :  '  Oh,  my  ruined 
life  ! '  My— lost— soul ! ' 

' '  These  were  his  last  words,  spoken 
with  his  last  breath.  When  they 
ended,  I  stood  beside  a  corpse. 

' '  Why,  Thornton,  you  are  shiver- 
ing !  Is  it  with  cold,  or  with  horror 
of  my  tale?  I  need  not  tell  you 
much  more.  I  saw  him  buried  next 
evening,  and  an  hour  afterward  started 
in  quest  of  my  sister.  I  found  Harold 
at  Raleigh,  sad  and  lonly  enough, 
poor  fellow.  He  fell  into  a  perfect 
paroxysm  of  grief  when  I  told  him  01 
the  death  of  Mr.  Leveredge,  and  was 
only  comforted  when  Holmsford  was 
reached,  and  he  gained  the  arms  of 
his  mother. " 

"God  bless  her!"  ejaculated 
Thornton,  fervently.  She  deserves 
the  love  of  her  child  if  a  mother  ever 
did.  Yet  it  is  a  wonder  to  me  that 
in  the  company  and  under  the  influ- 
ence of  Claude  Leveredge,  Harold 
cherished  his  affection." 

' '  Leveredge  encouraged  him  to  do 
so, "  replied  Fabean,  ' '  for  by  means 
of  it  he  hoped  to  gain  that  power  over 
La  Guerita,  which  his  own  love  could 
never  give.  But  enough  of  that. 
Thank  God,  her  trials  are  past- 
she  is  free,  and  though  now  so  frail 
and  wan,  I  earnestly  pray  that  in  her 
own  peaceful  home  she  will  find 
strength  and  contentment." 

' '  She  must  be  removed  thither  as 


228 


In  Bonds. 


quickly  as  possible, "  said  Thornton  ; 
' '  she  will  never  regain  her  strength 
amid  these  scenes,  where  her  life  of 
slavery  must  be  ever  before  her. " 

' '  And  you,  I  hope, "  said  Fabean, 
shaking  his  friend's  hand  warmly, 
' '  will  bear  hence  the  bride  you  have 
waited  for  so  long,  and  I  shall  be 
spared  from  hearing  longer  your  love- 
lorn woes. " 

"For  shame,"  said  Thornton, 
good-humoredly,  "I  had  no  idea 
you  were  laughing  in  your  sleeve  all 
this  time  you  have  pretended  to  con- 
dole with  me.  I  wish  you  would 
give  me  a  chance  to  pay  you  in  your 
own  coin,  Fabean.  Do  you  never 
mean  to  fall  in  love  ?  It  is  a  duty 
thatyou  owe  society. " 

' '  I  have  other  duties, "  said  Fa- 
bean,  gravely.  "Henceforth  I  shall 
devote  my  life  to  my  mother's  race. 
Poor,  blind  people,  they  need  guides, 
and  I  will  be  one  to  them. " 

Thornton  pressed  his  hand,  and 
they  walked  together  for  some  mo- 
ments silently. 

' '  I  was  going  to  tell  you  of  our 
marriage, "  said  Thornton,  at  length. 
' '  I  entreated  the  dear  girl  to  marry 
me  this  very  day,  but  she  said  she 
could  not  wed  and  part  from  me  so 
soon,  and  you  know  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  leave  my  regiment  at  pres- 
ent, and  I  declare  it  seems  equally 
impossible  for  me  to  leave  her.  But 
I  see  clearly  that  I  must  do  so,  and 
Adela  Holmes  will  be  safer  under  the 
protection  of  Curtis  and  his  men  than 
Mrs.  Leslie,  the  wife  of  an  Union 
soldier.  So  I  must  e'en  yield  to  my 
fate  with  the  best  grace  possible,  and 
pray  that  I  may  soon  be  '  a  disbanded 
volunteer.'  Then,  ah  then,  we  will 
take  our  loved  ones  home. " 


CHAPTER  XL. 

lt  After  long  storms  and  tempests  overbloune, 
The  sun  at  length  his  joyous  face  doth  cleare  ; 
So  when  as  fortune  all  her  spight  hath  showne, 
Some  blissful  homes  at  last  must  needs  appeare." 

Spenser. 

THE  next  day  Thornton  Leslie  left 
for  Richmond,  accompanied  by  Fa- 
bean  DeCuba,  but  within  a  month 
both  returned.  Was  there  ever  such 
a  June  ?  Thornton  declared  there 
never  had  been  to  him,  and  Adela, 
too,  blushingly  confessed  that  it 
seemed  sweeter  than  all  that  had  pas- 
sed since  the  cloudless  days  of  her 
childhood.  They  were  to  be  married 
on  the  morrow,  and  to  leave  imme- 
diately for  the  North,  and  they  could 
not  go  without  visiting  the  scenes  of 
their  former  peril,  and  together  they 
walked  to  the  spot  where  once  had 
stood  the  home  of  Asenith  Bray. 

The  air  was  full  of  fragrance  and 
summer  sounds.  They  listened  with 
new  pleasure  to  the  carols  of  the 
birds  among  the  trees,  and  to  the 
distant  murmuring  of 

"  The  busy  beck,  that  still  would  run 
And  fall,  and  falter  its  refrain ; 
And  pause,  and  shimmer  in  the  sun, 
And  fall  again." 

Often  they  left  the  beaten  road  to 
enter  the  woods,  crushing  beneath 
their  feet  the  odorous  pine  straw,  or 
stopping  to  gather  clusters  of  wild 
roses  or  yellow  jasmine,  that  hung 
in  rich  festoons  from  many  a  tree. 

"  We  shall  not  reach  our  destina- 
tion to-day,  if  we  loiter  so  long  upon 
the  road, "said  Adela,  at  last.  "I 
am  surprised,  Thornton,  after  all  the 
marching  you  have  done  that  you 
prove  yourself  such  a  laggard. " 

' '  This  air  is  balmy  enough  to  make 
any  man  lazy, "  he  answered.  ' '  Did 


In  Bonds. 


229 


you  ever  breathe  any  so  clear  and 
pure  before  ?  And  it  is  so  laden  with 
sunbeams,  too.  Ah,  stand  where  you 
are.  It  is  beautiful  to  see  the  glory  of 
Heaven  thus  shimmering  down  upon 
you.  You  should  always  stand  in 
sunbeams,  my  darling — your  golden 
hair  forms  a  halo  around  your  sweet 
face,  and  your  eyes  shine  like  the 
blue  depths  of  some  wood-fringed 
lake." 

Adela  laughed  and  blushed  at  his 
impassioned  words,  and  the  radiant 
light  of  pleasure  they  cast  over  her 
made  her  appear,  to  her  lover's  eyes, 
a  thousand  times  more  charming 
than  before.  She  looked  so  youthful 
as  she  stood  there,  although  dressed 
in  mourning,  that  Thornton  Leslie 
could  scarce  believe  that  five  years 
had  passed  since  he  had  won  the  first 
blushing  confession  of  her  love,  and 
that,  instead  of  nineteen,  her  life 
marked  twenty-four  years. 

He  told  her  so,  remembering,  too, 
how  wan,  and  indeed  how  old  she 
looked  when  he  parted  from  her  at 
Asenith's  door,  and  with  a  thrill  of 
gratified  love,  he  knew  that  his  com- 
ing had  worked  the  change. 

' '  My  precious  love, "  he  thought, 
' '  if  I  can  prevent  it — and  what  can- 
not a  husband's  love  prevent  ? — your 
eyes  shall  never  more  be  dimmed 
with  tears,  or  your  dear  lips  grow 
white  with  fear  or  pain.  Heaven 
knows  it  was  my  deepest  agony,  even 
in  that  time  of  suffering,  to  witness 
how  she  suffered,  too. " 

They  spoke  together  of  that  time 
when  they  stood  by  Asenith's  house, 
and  looked  around  upon  the  quaint 
garden,  now  more  than  ever  over- 
grown with  herbs  and  flowers,  which 
the  rank  weeds  were  vainly  striving 


to  o'ertop.  Thornton  thought  of  the 
time  he  had  tottered  up  the  narrow 
path,  now  almost  overgrown  with 
grass,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  his 
unknown  deliverer,  and  remembered 
what  a  tide  of  joy  had  rushed  over 
him  as  he  was  received  in  the  arms  of 
his  beloved  under  the  humble  roof 
now  fallen  forever. 

His  heart  swelled  with  pain  when 
he  thought  that  he  had  been,  perhaps, 
the  cause  of  the  affliction  that  had 
come  upon  Asenith. 

1 '  Ah,  I  would  rather  have  died  in 
prison, "  he  thought,  ' '  than  to  have 
bereft  that  good  woman  of  her  home, 
and  to  have  sent  her  forth  to  die  of 
grief  among  strangers. " 

But  Adela  comforted  him  by  relat- 
ing again  how  peacefully  she  had 
passed  away,  and  they  gathered  some 
of  the  choicest  flowers  from  the  gar- 
den, and  carried  them  to  Holmsford 
to  scatter  upon  her  grave. 

"If  there  are  saints  in  Heaven 
she  is  one,"  said  Thornton,  as  he 
knelt  upon  the  turf  and  planted  tufts 
of  violets  above  the  mound.  ' '  Well, 
well,  perhaps  it  is  well  she  passed 
from  earth  before  this  time,  for  it 
would  have  broken  her  heart  to  see 
the  changes  that  have  already  been 
wrought,  and  those  which  still  must 
come. " 

"Yes,"  answered  Adela,  "  for  she 
took  a  mother's  interest  in  all  these  ru- 
ined and  scattered  families.  But  over 
one  thing  she  would  have  rejoiced. " 

' '  Our  marriage  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  La  Guerita's  freedom." 

' '  Ah,  yes  ;  the  very  angels  must 
rejoice  over  that.  Adela  it  makes  me 
feel  keenly  the  frailty  of  poor  human 
nature  when  I  think  of  her  madness. 
She  was  such  a  lovely  girl,  so  queenly 


230 


In   Bonds. 


and  devoted  a  wife,  such  a  tender 
mother.  And  even  after  her  deep 
degradation  of  self-enslavement,  there 
are  few  women  so  sweet  and  noble 
upon  this  earth  ;  yet  I  fear  she  is 
gradually  fading  from  it. " 

' '  No,  no, "  answered  Miss  Holmes, 
"that  cannot  be.  She  is  growing 
strong  again — she  even  leaves  her 
room  sometimes.  She  will  live.  Her 
soul  is  calm,  and  if  not  happy,  she  is, 
at  least,  content,  and  contentment  is 
the  surest  medicine  for  such  sickness 
as  hers. " 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  said 
Thornton.  ' '  We  men  shudder  if  a 
woman  we  love  grows  pale,  and  I 
cannot  but  regard  La  Guerita  with 
love  and  admiration  akin  to  that  I 
hold  for  you. " 

"lam  not  jealous, "  said  Adela, 
with  a  smile,  ' '  and  again  I  say  that  she 
will  live.  She  is  naturally  a  strong 
woman,  Thornton.  Her  life  for  the 
past  four  years  has  proved  that.  She 
was  dying  of  a  breaking  heart  when 
her  child  was  restored  to  her,  and 
now  that  her  sorrows  are  overpast,  I 
believe  as  well  as  pray  that  she  will 
live  to  know  the  hallowed  bliss  that 
follows  pain." 

They  left  the  burial  place  and  has- 
tened to  the  house,  to  think  of  other 
things  almost  as  solemn — those  relat- 
ing to  the  bridal. 

Never  rose  a  brighter  sun  than  that 
which  gilded  the  tops  of  the  pine 
trees  on  the  following  morn.  La 
Guerita  arose  early,  for  the  first  time 
in  months,  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
willing  servants,  decked  the  house 
with  flowers.  It  was  a  gala  day  on 
the  plantation.  The  negroes,  who 
had  wandered  off  in  their  first  days 
of  freedom,  had  all  returned  to  wit- 


ness the  marriage  of  their  beloved 
Miss  Adela.  Roxy  was  especially 
joyous  and  triumphant,  for  of  late 
she,  too,  had  had  her  little  dream  of 
love,  which  promised  now  an  un-  , 
clouded  future.  Aunt  Matilda  alone 
seemed  discontented.  She  wandered 
from  room  to  room,  surveying  the 
different  arrangements  for  the  wed- 
ding, declaring  "everything  was 
going  to  wreck  and  ruin, "  and  face- 
tiously offering  to  sacrifice  even  Dixie 
to  grace  the  marriage  feast. 

Thornton  Leslie  had  in  some  way 
gained  possession  of  the  suit  of  regi- 
mentals which  Asenith  Bray  had  bur- 
ied years  before,  but  with  her  usual 
foresight  had  so  carefully  incased  that 
they  were  as  fresh  as  ever.  Adela 
smiled  as  she  recognized  them,  while 
he  gazed  delightedly  upon  her,  as  in 
her  simple  muslin  dress  and  wreath 
of  white  jasmine,  she  entered  the 
room,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  Fa- 
bean  DeCuba. 

The  ceremony  was  performed  at 
eleven  o'clock  by  the  chaplain  of 
Thornton's  regiment,  and  was  wit- 
nessed only  by  the  members  of  the 
family  and  the  servants. 

Mrs,  Holmes  was,  as  usual,  ex- 
ceedingly tearful  upon  the  occasion, 
and  Minna,  for  some  cause  unknown, 
but  seemingly  incidental  to  young 
ladies  at  such  a  time,  quite  shocked 
her  brother  by  sobbing  aloud,  and 
induced  Miss  Matilda  to  ask  sharply 
if  she  was  already  crying  because  she 
was  not  married  too. 

Meanwhile  the  wedded  pair  were 
receiving  the  congratulations  of  all 
present,  and  were  almost  overwhelmed 
by  those  of  the  rejoicing  negroes,  when 
the  notes  of  a  magnificent  band  were 
heard  upon  the  lawn. 


In  Bonds. 


231 


' '  It  is  the  band  of  my  own  regi- 
ment," cried  Thornton,  in  delight. 
"Ah,  Mr.  Reeves,  I  owe  this  to  you." 

The  doors  of  the  house  were 
quickly  thrown  open,  and  Thornton 
led  his  bride  out,  followed  by  the 
whole  party.  A  deafening  cheer  rent 
the  air  as  they  appeared,  which  was 
followed  by  congratulations  from  the 
members  of  the  band,  and  Captain 
Curtis  and  his  men.  Thornton  thank- 
ed them  in  a  few  expressive  words, 
for  with  delight  he  beheld  in*the  un- 
expected appearance  of  the  band  the 
good  will  and  affection  with  which  he 
was  regarded  by  those  he  had  so  often 
led  into  battle,  by  whose  beds  of  sick- 
ness he  had  stood,  and  over  whose 
dead  comrades  he  had  so  often  prayed. 

After  a  luncheon  the  wedded  pair, 
accompanied  by  Fabean  DeCuba, 
his  sister  and  her  son,  left  Holmsford, 
and  turned  their  faces  to  the  North. 

Adela  felt  some  natural  sorrow  at 
leaving  the  home  of  her  childhood, 
her  mother,  and  her  brother  and  sis- 
ter, but  the  tears  were  soon  driven 
away  by  the  smiles  of  her  husband. 

Though  it  was  not  grief  that  op- 
pressed her,  it  was  long  before  La 
Guerita  could  cast  off  the  painful 
thoughts  that  clouded  her  mind,  as 
the  carriage  in  which  she  was  seated 
followed  that  of  the  bride  and  groom 
from  the  home  where  she  had  known 
so  much  sorrow  and  so  little  joy. 
She  thought  of  the  time  when  she 
had  first  entered  it.  The  house  was 
whiter  then,  the  gardens  more  luxu- 
riant, yet  a  glamour  seemed  to  rest 
over  them,  which  was  all  gone  as, 
with  lingering  gaze,  she  marked  each 
favorite  spot,  hallowed  to  her — some 
by  pain,  a  few — a  very  few — by  joy. 

When  they  reached  the  cross  roads 


at  which  she  had  alighted  on  the  ever 
memorable  day  of  Thornton's  escape, 
she  would  gladly  have  hastened  from 
the  renewed  expressions  of  gratitude 
he  poured  upon  her,  as  his  wife 
pointed  out  the  path  she  had  taken. 
It  was  indeed  joy  to  her  to  meet  her 
brother's  approving  glance,  and  to 
hear  his  softly  spoken  words  : 

' '  That  deed  blessed  your  servitude, 
and  should  make  the  memory  of  your 
darkest  days  endurable." 

Upon  entering  the  town  of  M 

they  drove  immediately  to  the  depot. 
The  whole  party  from,  however,  wide- 
ly different  motives,  wished  to  avoid 
meeting  acquaintances,  but  scarcely 
had  they  left  the  carriages  when  Mr. 
Gordon  approached,  greeting  warmly, 
yet  with  a  subdued  air,  his  "dear 
Miss  Adela." 

She  received  and  returned  his 
greetings,  and  then  introduced  ' '  Col- 
onel Leslie, "  adding,  in  a  lower  tone, 
"my  husband." 

"Is  it  possible ? "  exclaimed  the 
lawyer,  in  tones  of  genuine  surprise. 

"Why,  I  supposed .  But  never 

mind  ;  times  have  changed.  I  wish 
you  much  joy,  I'm  sure. " 

The  last  sentence  was  uttered  in  a 
lugubrious  voice,  strikingly  adverse 
to  the  sentiment  expressed. 

"How  is  Mrs.  Gordon?"  asked 
Adela,  "and  Lillie  and  Katie.  All 
well,  I  hope." 

' '  Yes ;  but  ladies  can't  be  ladies 
now-a-day's — they  have  to  be  well 
and  strong.  I  left  them  cooking  the 
dinner.  Just  to  think  after  all  that  I 
have  said  and  done  in  their  behalf,  not 
one  of  my  former  slaves  will  remain 
with  me.  But  I  forgot  it  makes  no 
difference  if  the  wretched  creatures  do 
betray  all  the  latent  laziness  and  in- 


In  Bonds. 


gratitude  of  their  race.     You  are  on 
your  way  North,  I  presume. " 

' '  Yes,  Mr.  Gordon,  with  our  dear 
friends,  Mrs.  DeGrey,  and  her  brother 
and  son.  Colonel  DeCuba,  allow  me 
to  introduce  Mr.  Gordon." 

Adela  afterwards  laughed  heartily 
over  the  expression  of  rage  and  dis- 
may that  passed  over  the  lawyer's 
face  when  called  upon  to  respond  to 
this  introduction.  He  did  so,  how- 
ever, gracefully  enough,  turning  to 
La  Guerita  with  the  remark  : 

' '  This  must  be  a  sad  time  for  you, 
Rita." 

' '  Mrs.  DeGrey, ''  interrupted  Fa- 
bean,  frowning. 

1 '  Oh,  indeed  ;  I  beg  pardon,  but 
I  have  been  accustomed  to  the  name 
of  Rita.  Ah,  as  I  said  before,  this 
must  be  a  sad  time  for  you  ;  but  you 
must  remember  that  you  have  still  a 
refuge  in  Cuba.  How  many  of  you 
poor  creatures,  so  suddenly  bereft  of 
protection,  will  be  happy  to  seek  it 
there  ? " 

Fabean's  eyes  flashed,  and  the 
muscles  of  his  arm  contracted  with 
a  sudden  impulse  to  knock  the  au- 
dacious speaker  to  the  earth.  He 
restrained  himself,  however,  and 
merely  said  :  ' '  He  who  dares  insult 
Mrs.  DeGrey  will  find,  to  his  cost, 
that  she  has  both  a  home  and  a  pro- 
tector in  a  free  land. " 

' '  La  Guerita,  the  cars  are  wait- 
ing," said  Mrs.  Leslie,  turning  from 
Mr.  Gordon  with  a  distant  bow. 
She  was  almost  sorry  afterward  that 
she  had  thus  punished  his  insult, 
when  she  saw  how  deeply  humiliated 
he  was  by  her  coldness  and  scorn. 

In  a  few  seconds  the  last  whistle 
sounded,  and  the  train  moved  slowly 
onward.  La  Guerita  looked  back 


upon  the  town,  and  remembered 
how  she  had  first  gazed  upon  it 
through  the  gloom  of  a  summer 
night,  long  years  before.  Its  lights 
wore  to  her  then  an  unearthly,  spec- 
tral glare.  It  was,  she  knew,  but  the 
result  of  her  distempered  fancy  ;  yet 
she  wondered  if  the  awful  terror  that 
fell  then  upon  her  heart  was  not  sent 
to  warn  her  back  from  the  fate  to- 
ward which  she  was  hastening.  She 
shuddered  when  she  thought  of  it, 
and  involuntarily  turned  toward  her 
brother,  whose  arm  instantly  encir- 
cled her.  She  lowered  her  head  and 
thanked  God  for  His  merciful  kind- 
ness toward  her. 

She  had  entered  that  town  mad, 
cursing  God,  and  almost  denying 
His  existence ;  she  felt  it  meekly, 
blessing  Him  who  had  chastened 
her,  and  filled  with  the  ' '  peace  that 
passeth  all  understanding." 

These  reflections,  painful  though 
they  were,  melted  her  to  tears,  and 
feeling  a  strange  and  sweet  reliance 
on  Him  who  so  fondly  supported 
her,  she  wept  long  and  silently  such 
tears  as  follow  pain  and  hallow  its 
memory. 

A  blessed  calm  possessed  her,  soul 
as  she  shed  those  lightly  flowing  tears. 
The  voices  of  the  bride  and  groom 
floated  toward  her,  filling  her  with 
content,  sweet  and  perfect,  though 
they  brought  to  her  the  remembrance 
of  the  time  when  she,  too,  was  a 
bride,  and  listened  to  such  words  of 
love. 

"Though  my  husband  can  never 
be  forgot, "  she  mused,  ' '  there  are 
voices  that  have  the  tone  of  his. 
Ah,  my  boy — my  beautiful  boy  !  I 
will  live  for  thee,  and  for  the  helpless 
and  down-trodden  of  my  race  !  " 


In  Bonds. 


233 


CHAPTER   XLI. 

•So  word  by  word,  and  line  by  line, 

The  dead  man  touched  me  from  the  past, 
And  all  at  once  it  seenTd  at  last 
His  loving  soul  was  flash'd  on  mine." 
Tennyson's  "  In 


ALTHOUGH  La  Guerita  was  most 
anxious  to  reach  her  home,  traveling 
fatigued  her  so  greatly  that  the  party 
were,  on  her  account,  obliged  to  re- 
main a  short  time  in  Norfolk.  Upon 
the  second  day,  as  Mrs.  Leslie  was 
sitting  alone  in  her  private  parlor, 
her  husband  entered  and  said  : 

"Where  is  Mrs.  DeGrey ?  " 

"In  her  room,"  she  replied  ;  "I 
have  just  persuaded  her  to  lie  down 
for  a  few  hours.  But  what  do  you 
wish  with  her  ?  " 

' '  Nothing  in  particular,  my  love. 
Perhaps,  after  all,  it  is  just  as  well  she 
should  not  know.  Fabean  found  her 
hopeful  son  a  few  minutes  ago  in  one 
of  the  rooms  down  stairs,  watching, 
with  entranced  interest  and  offering 
to  bet  on  a  game  of  faro. " 

"  Is  it  possible?  " 

' '  Yes  ;  and  exceedingly  angry  he 
was  when  Fabean  first,  asked,  and 
then  commanded  him  to  leave  the 
room.  He  declared  at  first  that  he 
would  not,  and  that  his  uncle  had  no 
right  to  speak  to  him  in  such  a  man- 
ner, and  that  he  was  doing  no  wrong ; 
that  his  'dear  Mr.  Leveredge'  had 
taught  him  to  play  faro,  and  that  he 
should  do  so  when  he  pleased. 

"That  is  really  shocking!"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Leslie;  "I  had  per- 
ceived that  the  boy  was  changed,  but 
I  had  no  idea  of  such  things  as 
that." 

"Of  course,  you  had  not,  my 
love ;  but  Fabean  and  I  have  both 
31 


been  troubled  about  him.  You  must 
remember  the  child  was  for  months 
among  a  set  of  roystering  men,  who 
would  have  no  scruples  in  teaching 
him  every  vice.  If  there  is  any  good 
left  in  the  boy,  it  is  all  owing  to  his 
deep  love  for  his  mother." 

' '  Poor  soul,  she  has  a  hard  task  to 
perform  to  eradicate  from  the  child's 
heart  the  evil  planted  there  by  my 
misguided  cousin,"  sighed  Adela. 
"Where  is  Harold  now,  Thornton?" 

' '  With  Fabean,  who  is  endeavor- 
ing to  reason  the  matter  with  him. " 

"His  uncle  is  almost  a  stranger  to 
him,"  said  Adela,  with  hesitation  ; 
' '  perhaps  if  I  were  to  speak  to  him 
it  would  have  more  effect.  Ask  Fa- 
bean  if  he  may  come  to  me,  Thorn- 
ton. " 

' '  Certainly  !  "  he  answered,  leav- 
ing the  room,  into  which,  a  few  min- 
utes later,  Harold  entered,  looking 
so  sullen  and  defiant  that  Adela's 
heart  sank  within  her.  But  she  knew 
his  nature,  and  talking  to  him  kind- 
ly, yet  firmly,  showed  him  the  evil 
into  which  he  was  straying. 

"Mr.  Leveredge  used  to  doit," 
he  said. 

"That  may  be,"  she  replied; 
' '  but  what  may  be  proper  for  a 
man,  is  not  for  a  boy  like  you.  It  is 
not  right,  Harold,  even  if  Mr.  Lev- 
eredge allowed  you  to  do  it. " 

' '  I  don't  want  you  to  say  any- 
thing against  Mr.  Leveredge, "  he  ex- 
claimed, passionately,  bursting  into 
tears. 

Not  for  worlds  would  she  have 
darkened  the  memory  of  her  cousin 
in  that  young  mind ;  she  knew  it 
would  grow  hateful  far  too  soon,  and 
so  she  turned  from  the  discussion  of 
him  to  bid  him  remember  that  his 


234 


In  Bonds. 


uncle   was   then   his   guardian,  and 
must  be  obeyed. 

' '  If  you  don't  want  me  to  play 
cards  again,  I  won't, "  he  said ;  ' '  but 
I  don't  see  what  right  uncle  Fabean 
has  to  order  me  around  ;  I  am  not 
a  slave  now  !  " 

But  the  memory  that  he  had  been 
accounted  one  rankled  already  in  his 
heart.  Mrs.  Leslie  knew  not  what 
more  to  say  to  him,  and  was  gazing 
upon  him  sadly,  when  the  door, 
which  had  been  thoughtlessly  left 
ajar,  was  pushed  slowly  open,  and  a 
boy,  apparently  four  or  five  years  of 
age,  peeped  slyly  in.  Mrs.  Leslie 
looked  at  the  child,  and  gently  bade 
him  enter.  She  was  irresistibly  at- 
tracted by  the  beauty  of  his  face ; 
there  was,  also,  she  thought,  some- 
thing very  familiar  in  its  appearance. 
Yet  she  could  not  remember  where 
she  had  seen  it  before.  She  spoke 
to  him  again,  and  he  slowly  drew 
nearer  her — timidly,  yet  with  an  air 
that  showed  he  was  used  to  receiving 
and  well  pleased  with  the  attention 
of  strangers. 

She  was  still  gazing  upon  the  dark- 
eyed  boy,  with  momentarily  increas- 
ing interest,  when  her  husband  en- 
tered the  room,  and  glancing  at  the 
child,  exclaimed,  hurriedly  :  "Who 
is  that  ?  What  is  his  name  ?  " 

' '  I  do  not  know, "  replied  Adela, 
and,  turning  to  the  child,  asked  his 
name. 

At  that  instant  a  female  voice  call- 
ed :  "  Claude !  Claude  !  "  and  the 
child  bounded  away,  exclaiming : 
' '  Mamma  !  " 

' '  Claude  !  "  The  name  both  had 
had  in  their  thoughts.  Thornton 
stood  for  a  moment  in  deep  thought, 
and  then  hurried  from  the  room. 


It  was  an  hour  or  more  before  he 
returned.  Harold  had  gone  to  his 
uncle's  room,  and  his  place  was  sup- 
plied by  his  mother,  who  was  con- 
versing cheerfully  with  Mrs.  Leslie. 

Colonel  Leslie  looked  flushed  and 
excited,  and  paused,  irresolutely, 
when  he  saw  La  Guerita ;  then  mut- 
tering :  "It  will  be  as  well, "  said  : 

' '  I  have  just  heard  a  strange  tale, 
Adela,  from  the  mother  of  that 
child." 

' '  Indeed  !   what  was  it  ? " 

' '  It  relates  to  your  cousin,  Claude 
Leveredge. '' 

' '  I  suspected  that, "  she  answered  ; 
"Do  tell  me,  Thornton,  what  it  is." 

' '  She  claims  to  be  his  wife. " 

La  Guerita  turned  deadly  pale, 
while  Mrs.  Leslie  exclaimed,  excit- 
edly : 

"Oh,  that  cannot  be  true  !  My 
cousin  was  never  married.  Yet  there 
were  rumors  of  it  years  ago ;  yet  it 
cannot  be  true. " 

Thornton  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
and,  turning  to  La  Guerita,  said  : 

' '  Will  it  be  too  great  a  trial  to  you 
to  hear  the  simple  tale  the  lady  has 
just  told  me.  If  Adela  approves,  I 
propose  to  invite  her  into  this  room, 
and  give  her  an  opportunity  of  offer- 
ing proofs  that,  her  claims  are  just." 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  all  she 
can  say,"  replied  La  Guerita,  striv- 
ing to  conquer  her  emotion,  and  to 
regain  the  self-possession  she  had  for 
a  moment  lost,  and  speaking  in  a 
tone  that  intimated  her  utter  disbe- 
lief that  the  claimant  could  substan- 
tiate her  words. 

"Yes;  let  her  come,  by  all 
means  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Leslie  ; 
' '  one  must  listen  to  her,  though  I 
positively  believe  she  will  speak  false- 


In  Bonds. 


235 


ly.     Why  didn't  she  claim  her  rights 
when  Claude  was  alive  ?  " 

"She  shall  explain  all  that  to 
you,"  returned  her  husband,  hasten- 
ing from  the  room.  He  met  Fabean 
in  the  hall,  and  asked  him  to  join 
the  ladies.  He  did  so,  and  found 
them  sitting  silently  together — each 
wearing  an  expression  of  extreme 
perplexity.  He  had  not  time  to  ask 
of  his  sister  the  cause  before  Thorn- 
ton entered,  ushering  in  a  lady,  whom 
all  involuntarily  rose  to  meet,  and 
whom  both  Mrs.  Leslie  and  La  Gue- 
rita,  with  surprise  and  emotion,  re- 
cognized as  the  original  of  the  por- 
trait found  by  Mrs.  Holmes  among 
Claude  Leveredge's  effects,  at  the 
time  of  his  supposed  death. 

They  were  both  so  greatly  embar- 
rassed that  it  was  with  difficulty  they 
could  command  themselves  suffi- 
ciently to  acknowledge  with  compos- 
ure the  introduction  of  Mrs.  Claude 
Leveredge. 

She  was  quite  young ;  certainly 
not  more  than  twenty-two  or  three. 
She  would,  indeed,  have  readily 
passed  for  less  even  than  that,  though 
her  fair  face  was  shadowed  by  an  ex- 
pression of  melancholy,  wrhich  deep- 
ened around  her  small,  rosy  mouth 
and  in  her  large,  blue  eyes.  She  was 
small'and  slender,  of  most  graceful 
form,  and  distinguished  by  an  air  of 
dignity  that  commanded,  at  once,  ad- 
miration and  respect. 

A  deep  flush  dyed  her  cheeks  for 
an  instant,  as  she  replied,  in  a  slight- 
ly foreign  accent,  to  the  salutation  of 
Mrs.  Leslie,  ' '  Mr.  Leveredge's  cous- 
in. "  Then  she  sank  gracefully  into  a 
low  chair,  and  passing  one  hand  light- 
ly over  her  brow  and  across  the  ban- 
deaux of  luxuriant  blonde  hair  that 


graced  her  head,  turned  toward  Col- 
onel Leslie,  as  if  awaiting  his  pleas- 
ure. 

With  a  pang,  La  Guefita  noticed 
upon  her  hand  a  ring  Claude  Lever- 
edge  had  been  wont  to  wear  long 
years  before.  Mrs.  Leslie  saw  it  too, 
and  with  heightened  color  listened  to 
her  husband,  as  he  said  : 

"  Madam,  these  ladies  and  the 
gentlemen  present,  are  relatives  of  the 
late  Colonel  Leveredge,  and  will  be 
greatly  interested  in  any  communi- 
cation you  may  make  concerning 
him, " 

"  Ah,  sir,  I  will  but  tell  them  the 
truth, "  she  responded,  earnestly ;  "I 
scarcely  think  I  could  have  revealed 
even  that  if  you  had  told  me  at  the 
first  that  my  husband  was  dead." 

She  spoke  in  tremulous  tones,  fal- 
tering a  little  at  the  long  words,  and 
pronouncing  them  all,  though  with 
correctness  and  delicacy,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  show  they  were  strange 
to  her  tongue. 

' '  Pray  do  not  hesitate  to  repeat 
your  sad  tale, "  said  Colonel  Leslie, 
reassuringly  ;  "it  will  be  received 
with  due  consideration  both  to  your- 
self and  to  the  memory  of  Colonel 
Leveredge. " 

' '  I  wish  it  to  be, "  she  answered  ; 
"Ah,  gladly  would  I  praise  rather 
than  blame  my  husband,  if  I  could 
do  so. " 

"  Mrs.  DeGrey,"  said  Colonel 
Leslie,  turning  toward  La  Guerita, 
you  are  looking  excessively  fatigued. 
Pray  lie  down  on  the  sofa.  Thorn- 
ton, there  is  a  fan  on  that  table. " 

La  Guerita  gladly  obeyed  Colonel 
Leslie's  request,  for  she  felt  quite 
overpowered  by  the  presence  of  that 
fair  young  creature  who  called  her- 


236 


In  Bonds. 


self  Claude  Leveredge's  wife.  Fa- 
bean  seated  himself  beside  her,  and 
all,  with  the  deepest  interest,  listened 
to  the  tale  of  the  young  stranger. 

She  began  it  very  simply,  without 
hesitation,  or  preface  either  of  word 
or  sigh  : 

' '  My  maiden  name  was  Adele  Ro- 
quencourt  ;  my  parents  died  when  I 
was  an  infant,  and  left  me  penniless, 
to  the  care  of  an  aunt — Madame  Du- 
junois.  She  was  a  childless  widow, 
and  bestowed  all  the  wealth  of  her 
affection  upon  me.  But  deeply  as 
she  loved  me,  I  knew  it  was  more 
for  my  beauty  and  cleverness  than 
from  any  other  motive  ;  for  she  was 
exceedingly  proud,  and  although 
quite  wealthy,  occupied  but  a  medium 
station  in  society,  which  she  hoped 
to  raise  by  my  marriage  with  a  noble. 
She  often  said  I  was  beautiful  enough 
to  win  any  heart,  and  liberally  be- 
stowed upon  me  an  education  that 
would  adorn  a  countess.  I  was  ex- 
ceedingly vain  of  my  beauty,  which 
I  imagined  of  the  most  dazzling 
type,  because,  at  an  early  age,  I  was 
named  the  belle  of  St.  Croix — the 
village  in  which  I  lived.  I  aspired 
most  eagerly  to  reach  the  honors  my 
aunt  prophesied  for  me,  and  as  an 
important  step  toward  them  applied 
myself  to  study  with  a  devotion  which 
other  girls,  as  frivolous  as  myself, 
would  naturally  have  given  to  flirta- 
tions with  rustic  swains.  For  that 
reason,  I  speak  so  readily  to  you  in 
your  native  tonge,  for  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  I  was  well  versed  in  English, 
as  well  as  French  literature  ;  I  also 
played  on  the  piano  and  guitar,  and 
accompanied  them  with  a  voice  of 
considerable  power  and  sweetness  ; 
beside  which  I  was  an  adept  at  all 


species    of   embroidery    and    fancy 
work. 

' '  I  tell  you  this  that  you  may  un- 
derstand why  I  had  many  lovers,  not 
only  in  my  own  station  but  above  it. 
Among  the  latter,  the  most  devoted, 
and  the  one  which  I  favored  most, 
was  Monsieur  DeLisle.  He  was  an 
elegant  young  man — a  gentleman  in 
the  highest  sense  of  the  word — the 
owner  of  the  finest  estate  within  many 
miles.  My  aunt  was  well  pleased  at 
his  attentions,  and  I  encouraged 
them,  feeling  justly  flattered  by  the 
preference  he  openly  avowed. 

"I  was  walking  near  the  village 
with  him  one  evening,  when  I  saw  a 
gentleman  loitering  along  the  road, 
as  if  wandering  there  without  any 
object  unless  perhaps  it  was  to  drive 
from  his  brow  the  cloud  of  care 
which  rested  upon  it.  I  called  the 
attention  of  my  companion  to  him, 
and  instantly,  with  an  exclamation  of 
pleasure  he  sprang  forward  and  greet- 
ed him. 

' '  A  few  moments  later,  I  was  in- 
troduced to  Monsieur  Leveredge, 
whose  gloomy  face,  unlighted  then 
by  a  single  smile,  was  expressive  of 
a  melancholy — it  seemed  to  me  a 
despair — that  filled  me  with  admiring 
pity,  while  I  saw  with  a  thrill  of  grati- 
fied pride,  that  though  in  appearance 
the  veriest  misanthrope,  he  was  not 
insensible  to  my  charms,  and  from 
that  moment  the  attractions  of  Mon- 
sieur DeLisle  faded  from  my  sight. 

1 '  Monsieur  Leveredge  remained 
in  the  village,  at  the  house  of  Mon- 
sieur DeLisle  whose  intentions  I  still 
endured  that  I  might  see  his  friend. 
I  believe  now  that  I  dissimilated  so 
well,  that  even  Monsieur  Leveredge, 
for  some  time,  believed  me  totally  in- 


In  Bonds. 


different  to  him,  and  piqued  at  my 
coldness,  he  pertinaciously  sought 
my  society,  and  paid  me  attentions, 
of  which  at  last  both  my  aunt  and 
Monsieur  DeLisle  demanded  ex- 
planations. 

' '  Until  then  I  am  quite  sure  he  had 
never  thought  of  marriage  ;  even  then 
he  did  not  ask  me  of  my  aunt,  who 
had  indeed  declared,  that  she  would 
never  consent  to  my  marriage  with  a 
heretic,  but  privately  induced  me  to 
elope  with  him. 

' '  We  were  married  in  Paris,  by  Le 
Abbe  Marchand,  and  though  I  know 
now  that  I  was  not  of  age,  my  aunt 
could  have  claimed  me,  she,  on  the 
contrary,  disowned  me,  and  declared 
her  intention  of  leaving  her  wealth  to 
the  church. 

' '  Monsieur  Leveredge  installed 
me  in  fashionable  apartments,  and, 
for  a  time  I  was  perfectly  happy.  My 
love  of  dress  was  gratified  by  the  rich 
presents  my  husband  lavished  upon 
me,  and  my  admiration  satiated  by 
the  admiration  of  his  numberless 
male  acquaintances  who  visited  us. 
I  sometimes  wished  that  I  had  one 
friend  of  my  own  sex,  but  it  seemed 
that  women  were  rigidly  excluded 
from  our  circle,  and  I  was  exceeding- 
ly offended  and  mortified  when  I  dis- 
covered that  my  husband  often  at- 
tended the  assemblies  of  high-born 
dames,  while  I  was  by  them  altogeth- 
er ignored.  But  he  laughed  at  my 
anger  and  quickly  dispelled  it,  and 
my  suspicions,  and  on  his  continued 
attentions,  and  those  of  his  gay  com- 
panions, I  rested  content. 

' '  So  matters  continued  for  nearly 
a  year,  when  suddenly  we  were  com- 
pelled to  leave  our  elegant  apart- 
ments for  others  far  more  retired. 


My  husband  had  lately  lost  vast  sums 
at  the  gaming-table,  and  my  jewels 
were  sold  to  pay  these  debts  of  honor, 
while,  in  actual  penury,  we  awaited 
remittances  from  America.  Never 
shall  I  forget  those  gloomy  days. 
My  husband  seemed  plunged  into 
the  depths  of  melancholy.  For  a 
time  I  attributed  it  wholly  to  the 
lack  of  that  excitement  in  which  we 
had  constantly  lived,  but  at  length  I 
discovered  that  though  that  was 
doubtless  the  immediate  cause,  the 
more  powerful  one  lay  farther  in  the 
past,  for  then  I  discovered  that  my 
husband  cared  nothing  for  me,  that 
he  madly  loved  one  whom  he  had 
wronged  even  unto  death. 

"Once  in  his  sleep  I  heard  him 
mutter  a  doubt  whether  she  was  real- 
ly dead,  and  from  that  time  my  peace 
of  mind  fled. 

"The  remittances  from  America 
came  ;  we  returned  once  more  to 
our  life  of  excitement,  but  I  abhorred 
it.  My  husband  won  immense  sums 
at  the  gaming  table  ;  everything  that 
he  touched  appeared  to  turn  into  gold. 
We  lived  in  the  greatest  magnificence, 
but  I  was  deeply  unhappy,  for  my 
husband  seemed  like  one  demented, 
and  I  knew  him  to  be  the  victim  of 
passion  and  remorse. 

"At  last  he  suddenly  declared  his 
intention  of  leaving  me  at  Paris,  and 
visiting  for  a  few  months  his  native 
land.  I  was  filled  with  despair,  for 
at  that  time  my  fondest  hopes  were 
to  be  realized — I  was  about  to  become 
a  mother,  and  I  believed  our  child 
would  bind  him  to  me." 

' '  Let  me  tell  you  the  rest,  quick- 
ly. "  She  panted  for  breath,  and  grew 
pale,  as  if  it  were  almost  impossible 
for  her  to  speak  at  all. 


238 


In  Bonds. 


'  *  My  entreaties  were  in  vain.  He 
placed  me  in  more  retired  apart- 
ments, gave  me  a  sum  of  money,  as- 
suring me  that  his  friend,  Monsieur 
Dacre,  would  look  after  my  welfare, 
and  that  he  would  shortly  return. 
With  that  I  was  obliged  to  feign 
contentment,  though  my  heart  was 
bursting  with  anguish  and  distrust 
when  he  left  me. 

' '  A  month  afterward  my  boy  was 
born.  Monsieur  Dacre  was  very  kind 
to  me.  He  visited  me  every  day,  and 
brought  me  fresh  flowers  and  fruits 
when  I  could  enjoy  them,  but  he 
never  mentioned  my  husband,  though 
I  asked  for  him  repeatedly. 

"At  last  I  was  quite  well,  and 
then  one  day  —  mon  Dieu,  I  shall 
never  forget  it — he  told  me  Monsieur 
Leveredge  had  left  me  forever. 

1 '  Oh,  they  were  cruel,  cruel  words. 
I  could  not  believe  them.  I  de- 
manded proof,  and  it  was  given  me. 
Oh,  I  cannot  tell  you  what  he 
said,  Sante  Vierge,  it  was  too  vile  ! 
But  he  made  me  understand  that 
Claude  had  never  owned  me  as  his 
wife — that  I  had  never  been  imagin- 
ed to  be  such  by  any  who  had  visited 
us. 

' '  I  understood  all  then ;  why  I 
had  been  made  mistress  of  that  gamb- 
ling haunt.  Alas,  before  I  had  been 
too  young  and  innocent  to  know  he 
would  never  have  taken  his  wife 
there  ;  why  *  I  had  been  excluded 
from  all  female  society,  and  why  I 
had  been  deserted. 

' '  First  came  anguish,  and  then 
shame.  I  was  daily  insulted  by 
Monsieur  Dacre  and  such  as  he.  All 
laughed  to  scorn  my  protestations 
that  I  was  Claude  Leveredge's  wife — 
that  our  boy  was  our  legitimate  child. 


' '  I  escaped  from  them  ;  I  can 
scarcely  tell  how.  But  though  my 
husband  had  branded  me  as  the 
vilest  thing  on  earth,  he  had  not  left 
me  quite  destitute,  or  Heaven  knows, 
only  death  could  have  saved  me  from 
becoming  so. 

' '  I  swore  that  I  would  prove  the 
truth  of  my  assertions,  and  although 
the  priest  who  married  us  was  dead, 
the  record  still  existed  and  I  found 
two  living  witnesses.  They  tell  me 
my  marriage  is  worth  nothing  in  law 
— that  I  was  under  age,  and  Claude 
Leveredge  a  foreigner  and  heretic. 
But  that  is  nothing  to  me  ;  it  vindi- 
cated my  honor — it  saved  my  child 
from  shame.  I  was  triumphant  in 
France  ;  I  dared  aspire  to  be  so  in 
America  also.  With  the  little  money 
I  had,  I  came  to  this  country  ;  it 
was  involved  in  war  ;  my  object  was 
delayed,  I  could  not  reach  Claude 
Leveredge  to  force  him  to  acknowl- 
edge me  as  his  wife. " 

At  that  time  Fabean  DeCuba  rose, 
and  approaching  the  speaker,  held 
out  his  hand  to  her,  saying  earn- 
estly : 

' '  I  believe  now  that  Claude  Lev- 
eredge's last  wish  is  fulfilled,  that  I 
have  found  '  Adela ' — not  his  cousin 
— but  his  wife. " 

The  young  lady  burst  into  tears. 

Mrs.  Leslie  looked  at  her  in  pain- 
ful indecision,  and  at  Fabean,  as  if 
somewhat  vexed  at  his  officious  rec- 
ognition of  the  stranger's  claims. 

The  young  Frenchwoman  per- 
ceived it,  and  striving  to  regain  her 
self-possession,  took  from  her  pocket 
a  packet  of  papers,  saying  : 

' '  I  toiled  for  my  bread  in  New 
York,  three  long  weary  years,  that  I 
might  force  him  to  acknowledge  the 


In  Bonds. 


genuineness  of  these  documents.  He 
is  dead  !  He  has  gone  too  far  for 
either  my  hate  or  my  love  to  reach 
him ;  but  I  have  still  my  son  to 
strive  for." 

She  opened  the  package  and  spread 
upon  the  table  the  records  of  her  mar- 
riage and  the  birth  of  her  son — both 
attested  by  well-known  names.  There 
were  also  two  letters  from  Claude 
Leveredge,  beginning  "  my  dear 
wife,"  the  genuineness  of  which — 
those  who  kne-^his  peculiar  callig- 
raphy, could  not  for  a  moment 
question. 

Mrs.  Leslie  looked  over  the  papers 
one  by  one  in  silence.  She  believed 
in  her  heart  that  what  she  had  heard 
was  true,  yet  she  was  unwilling,  by 
acknowledging  it,  to  cast  upon  the 
memory  of  her  -cousin  the  infamy 
he  merited. 

"  Well,  my  love,  what  shall  I  tell 
her,"  asked  Thornton,  in  a  low 
voice. 

1 '  She  must  wait  a  little, "  she 
whispered ;  "I  must  talk  over  the 
matter  with  you.  It  is  very,  very, 
distressing. " 

She  glanced  at  the  stranger,  and 
saw  that  she  was  overcome  by  her 
emotions,  and  was  weeping  bitterly. 

The  sight  conquered  her ;  her  sus- 
picious nature  was  vanquished,  and 
clasping  the  delicate  hands  of  the 
young  widow  in  her  own,  she  caught 
her  to  her  heart,  and  wept  with  her, 
exclaiming  : 

' '  My  poor  girl,  I  do  believe  you  ; 
I  do  believe  that  you  were  the  wife 
of  my  cousin  Claude  before  Heaven, 
that  is  enough  for  us,  whatever  the 
law  may  be. " 

Thornton  smiled,  saying,  ''How 
like  you,  Adela,  to  rush  from  the  ex- 


treme of  doubt  to  that  of  certainty  in 
an  instant,"  while  Madame  Lever- 
edge  burst  into  hysterical  tears,  and 
rushed  from  the  room. 

She  soon  returned,  bearing  her 
ctyld  in  her  arms. 

' '  Ah,  Madame,  she  exclaimed, 
' '  my  son  is  an  outcast  no  longer. 
God  bless  you.  God  bless  you." 

Colonel  Leslie  interposed,  and  led 
the  excited  lady  from  the  room,  mo- 
tioning his  wife  toward  La  Guerita, 
for  whom  the  scene  had  evidently 
been  too  much. 

'  'Oh,  my  brother,  Oh,  Adela,"  she 
cried,  ' '  I  know  she  has  spoken  the 
truth.  Her  face  has  more  than 
once  risen  between  me  and  Claude 
Leveredge,  and  warned  me  back  from 
him.  Oh,  had  I  yielded  !  O,  God, 
what  an  abject  creature  I  should  this 
day  have  been. " 

They  soothed  her  as  well  as  they 
were  able,  and  at  last  succeeded  in 
restoring  some  degree  of  composure 
to  her  excited  mind.  But  from  that 
day,  all  the  faith  she  had  ever  felt  in 
the  purity  of  Claude  Leveredge's 
love — the  last  dream  of  her  life — 
passed  from  her,  and  she  saw  it  as 
it  had  ever  appeared  to  others,  as 
vile,  as  damning,  as  it  had  been  in- 
satiate. 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

**  Were  my  whole  life  to  come  one  heap  of  troubles, 
The  pleasure  of  this  moment  would  suffice 
And  sweeten  all  my  griefs  with  its  remembrances." 

Lee. 

FABEAN  DECUBA  and  Colonel  Les- 
lie manifested  the  greatest  interest  in 
the  case  of  the  young  Frenchwoman, 
and  Adela,  rushing  to  the  opposite  of 
the  dislike  and  suspicions  she  had 
entertained  of  her  at  first,  evinced  for 


240 


In   Bonds. 


her  the  kindliest  sympathy,  feeling 
as  she  had  before  done  for  La  Guerita 
that  it  was  her  duty,  by  every  means 
in  her  power,  to  make  compensation 
for  the  distrust  with  which  she  had  at 
first  regarded  her.  To  this  end  sfye 
wrote  to  her  mother  and  to  Mr.  Gor- 
don, expressing  her  entire  belief  in 
the  tale  the  stranger  would  tell  them, 
for  she  was  in  no  wise  debarred  by 
the  news  of  the  death  of  Claude  Lev- 
eredge  from  declaring  herself  his 
wife,  and  proving  the  legitimacy  of 
his  child.  In  this  she  was  most 
heartily  supported  by  the  Leslies,  and 
also,  though  more  gently,  by  La  Gue- 
rita and  her  brother,  who  felt  but  too 
keenly  how  necessary  to  the  happi- 
ness of  the  boy  was  the  recognition 
of  his  mother's  claims. 

Mrs.  Leveredge  proceeded  south 
on  the  following  day,  provided  with 
full  instructions  how  to  act  from  Col- 
onel Leslie,  and  from  his  wife  with 
letters  to  all  whom  it  was  necessary 
she  should  meet,  and  on  the  same 
day  the  travelers  north  took  the  boat 
for  New  York. 

Two  days  later,  just  at  sunset,  they 
stood  on  the  pier  at  Ellisville.  It  was 
almost  impossible  for  La  Guerita  to 
believe  that  so  many  years  had  passed 
since  she  left  it.  There  were,  she 
fancied,  the  same  buildings,  the  same 
steamers  discharging  their  freight  or 
loading  for  the  downward  trip,  the 
same  little  boats  gliding  down  the 
stream  propelled  by  youthful  rowers. 
There  was  the  same  row  of  carriages, 
the  very  vehicles  seemed  familiar, 
and  the  same  motley  crowd  of  hurry- 
ing men  of  business,  loungers,  ven- 
dors of  small  wares  and  beggars,  that 
had  appeared  to  watch  her  so  curious- 
ly when  she  left  them  five  years  before. 


She  stood  in  a  maze  of  bewilder- 
ing thoughts,  the  Past  and  Present 
each  striving  for  the  mastery.  She 
was  confusedly  conscious  that  the 
Leslies  bade  her  farewell,  that  Fabean 
placed  her  in  a  carriage,  and  that  she 
was  driven  rapidly  away.  But  it  was 
not  until  they  had  left  the  streets  of  the 
busy  little  town  that  she  recovered 
her  self-command  sufficiently  to  re- 
alize that  her  brother  and  son  were 
seated  before  her,  and  that  they  were 
passing  over  the  road  to  Enola. 

Enola — Alone  !  Alas,  she  had 
prophesied  her  fate  in  naming  her 
home.  Home !  Ah,  that  word. 
What  a  tide  of  emotions  swept  over 
her  heart.  She  remembered  the  day 
she  first  entered  it,  and  wondered  if  it 
was  half  as  beautiful  as  then.  Oh, 
no,  it  could  not  be.  Her  husband 
was  then  at  her  side — he  who  had 
ordered  every  beauty  and  perfected 
every  charm.  Now,  the  place  so 
lovely  then,  knew  no  master.  For 
years  it  had  been  deserted  and  neg- 
lected. Who  would  care  to  decorate 
for  her  coming  ;  who  would  welcome 
her  to  it  ? 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  she  won- 
dered that  Victor  DeGrey  had  not 
been  at  the  depot  to  meet  her.  The 
remembrance  stung  her  to  the  quick. 
Were,  then,  her  fears  yet  to  be  realized  ? 
Was  she  to  be  a  stranger  and  an  out- 
cast among  those  who  had  once  loved 
and  honored  her  so  greatly  ? 

Happily  their  progress  was  rapid, 
and  her  arrival  at  the  gates  of  Enola 
was  too  soon  to  allow  a  long  contin- 
uance of  these  gloomy  thoughts.  A 
thrill  of  genuine  delight,  for  an  in- 
stant unclouded  by  any  thought  of 
the  past,  filled  her  heart.  It  was  un- 
changed, beautiful,  glorious  ! 


In  Bonds. 


241 


Harold  uttered  exclamations  of  de- 
light as  the  carriage  rolled  over  the 
smooth  roads,  and  paused  before 
the  steps.  In  a  moment  La  Guerita 
found  herself  standing  upon  them, 
bewildered  by  a  thousand  thoughts 
of  pleasure  and  of  pain,  but  above  all 
rose  that,  that  here  was  no  one  to 
welcome  her. 

She  felt  a  deadly  chill  at  her  heart. 
She  staggered  and  would  have  fallen, 
but  at  that  moment  the  door  was 
thrown  open  and,  with  a  cry  of  de- 
light, Victor  DeGrey  bounded  down 
the  steps,  and  catching  her  in  his 
arms,  rushed  tumultuously  into  the 
parlor,  exclaiming  : 

' '  Thank  God,  mother,  the  wander- 
ers are  home  again  !  " 

La  Guerita  in  an  instant  saw  why 
she  had  been  so  disappointed  at  the 
depot,  and  on  her  arrival  at  the  door 
of  Enola,  the  mother  and  son  had 
intended  to  give  her  a  great  heartfelt 
welcome  that  would  neither  excite 
nor  sadden  her.  It  was  well  that 
their  plan  had  failed,  owing  to  the 
uncontrollable  emotion  of  Victor  on 
beholding  the  agitation  and  weak- 
ness of  La  Guerita.  The  excitement 
attending  her  greeting  was  exactly 
what  she  needed  to  draw  her  thoughts 
from  the  past,  and  fix  them  upon  the 
present. 

And  supported  by  it,  she  returned 
with  delight  the  caresses  of  Victor 
and  his  mother.  The  latter  after  a 
single  embrace  and  a  fervent  ' '  Wel- 
come, my  child, "  turned  to  Harold. 

She  drew  him  toward  her,  and 
looked  at  times  as  if  she  could  never 
turn  her  gaze  elsewhere,  then  catch- 
ing him  to  her  heart,  lost  all  the 
haughty  calmness  that  had  sustained 
her  in  her  greeting  of  La  Guerita, 
32 


and  burst  into  a  paroxysm  of  joyous 
tears,  exclaiming  thai  she  could  bear 
to  die  now  that  the  Lord  had  per- 
mitted her  to  look  once  more  upon 
the  face  of  the  boy — the  child  of  her 
dead  son. 

La  Guerita  could  with  difficulty 
afterward  remember  how  that  even- 
ing passed,  she  had  pictured  to  her- 
self her  arrival  home  a  thousand 
times. 

She  had  believed  that  it  would  be 
joyftti — yet,  oh,  how  sad.  How 
every  room  by  its  discolored  walls, 
its  moldy  furniture,  would  cry  out 
to  her  of  her  absence  and  neglect, 
and  awaken  bitter  memories  of  the 
last  lone  hours  she  had  passed  among 
them.  How  different  the  reality. 
The  walls  were  as  spotless  as  the  day 
she  first  beheld  them,  the  furniture 
was  the  same,  and  arranged  as  she 
best  loved  to  see  it.  She  could  al- 
most believe  that  the  stand  of  flowers 
near  the  window,  was  the  same  that 
Victor  had  placed  there  as  a  bridal 

gift         gincroft  Libwj 

The  memory  of  the  dark  days  ap- 
peared as  a  lively-remembered  dream, 
while  the  first  happy  hours  of  her 
married  life  seemed  actually  present. 
She  even  in  a  nervous,  excited  way, 
turned  every  time  the  door  opened, 
expecting  to  see  her  husband  enter. 
She  missed  him  all  the  evening,  but 
not  as  one  gone  forever.  He  was 
absent  but  would  return.  So  it 
seemed  during  the  happy  hours  she 
spent  that  night  with  Mrs.  DeGrey 
and  Victor  ;  later  came  the  realiza- 
tion that  his  stay  would  be  forever — 
that  she  was  a  widow  not  a  wife. 

But  she  was  then-  better  able  to 
bear  it,  and  though  a  deep  tinge  of 
sadness  rested  upon  her  heart,  and 


242 


In  Bonds. 


clouded  the  beauty  of  her  home, 
faith  in  a  merciful  God,  and  peace- 
ful reliance  in  the  love  of  her  friends, 
stood  sentinels  at  the  door  of  her 
heart,  and  barred  the  entrance  of 
anguish  and  despair. 

Within  her  bosom,  hope,  crown- 
ed by  love  divine,  sat  enthroned,  and 
every  tear  she  shed  sprang  from  that 
blessed  source,  even  when  she  stood 
above  her  husband's  grave,  and 
mourned  his  early  fate  ;  she  wept  as 
those  whom  the  Lord  comforteth, 
and  left  him  to  his  long  repose,  not 
as  once,  in  the  fury  of  despair,  but 
in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality 
in  which  she,  in  life's  fitful  fever, 
might  share. 

She  was  happy.  Aye,  happier — 
more  deeply,  truly  so — than  her  most 
joyous  days. 

Then  she  was  joyous,  as  the  birds 
are,  because  sunshine  warmly  shown 
upon  her,  and  she  did  not  dream  it 
would  ever  fail.  Now  she  was  nappy 
in  that  higher  sense  that  only  souls 
can  know  that  have  battled  with  life's 
sorest  sorrows  and  temptations,  and 
through  them  have  found  God's  truth 
and  peace. 

It  was  a  wonder  to  her  friends  how 
she  took  up  the  thread  of  her  higher 
life  so  readily,  when  she  had  lost  the 
clue  so  long.  A  stranger  going  into 
her  home  would  never  have  guessed 
that  trie  mind  of  the  calm,  graceful 
woman  that  so  quietly  presided  there 
had  ever  been  distracted  so  cruelly,  or 
that  she  had  for  years  been  a  lowly 
slave — not  even  mistress  in  the  lowly 
cabin  in  which  she  had  been  a 
stranger  to  the  luxuries  and  refine- 
ments that  she -now  looked  upon  so 
indifferently,  as  if  she  regarded  them 
as  the  common  necessaries  of  life,  that 


she  could  not  even  conceive  the  pos- 
sibility of  existing  without.  To  Ade- 
la,  who  had  never  beheld  her  m  that 
'home  before,  the  sight  was  not  sim- 
ply strange,  but  a  mystery — a  perfect 
mystery — as  she  emphatically  told 
her  husband,  one  evening  when  they 
were  returning  home  from  a  visit  to 
Enola. 

"One  would  think  that  she  had 
never  known  any  other  life, "  she  said  ; 
"She  sat  in  a  low  chair  engaged  up- 
on some  trifle  of  knitting  work,  which 
she  said  was  to  be  developed  into  a 
present  for  me,  and  entertained  her 
guests,  calmly*and  gravely  it  is  true, 
but  as  pleasantly,  as  if  to  hear  and 
answer  their  light  talk,  and  to  pass  a 
needle  slowly  through  such  trivial 
work,  had  ever  been  her  sole  em- 
ployment. Your  sister  was  there, 
Thornton  ;  she  came  and  went  while 
you  were  absent  with  Fabean,  en- 
deavoring to  decide  upon  a  site  for 
the  charity-school." 

"Yes,"  said  Thornton,  "  La  Gue- 
rita  has  learned  by  sad  experience  that 
toil  soothes  pain,  when  no  reason- 
ings can.  She  has  set  apart  her  life 
to  the  benefit  of  the  women  of  her 
mother's  race,  while  Fabean  tells  me 
he  intends  to  go  South  to  purchase 
a  plantation,  and  make  it  a  prac- 
tical school  for  the  young  freed- 
men. " 

' '  Indeed, "  exclaimed  Adela, ' '  you 
astonish  me.  Fabean  is  so  fond  of 
society — so  fitted  to  shine  in  it.  How 
will  he  ever  endure  such  a  life?" 

"His  sense  of  duty  will  uphold 
him, "  answered  Thornton  ;  "he,  as 
well  as  his  sister,  possesses  a  noble 
soul.  They  will,  together,  in  their 
generation,  do  more  toward  raising 
the  negroes  of  America,  than  all  the 


In  Bonds. 


243 


arguments  and  schemes  of  politicians 
could  accomplish  in  ages." 

' '  I  believe  you, "  said  Adela, 
warmly,  "La  Guerita  is  a  noble 
woman,  and  from  those  poor  simple 
creatures  she  is  gathering  around  her, 
she  will  produce  noble  women — no- 
ble in  their  sphere. " 

"And  Fabean  will  do  the  same  for 
the  men, "  replied  her  husband,  4 '  al- 
ready his  heart  and  soul  are  centered 
in  his  work." 

* '  Yes,  but  it  makes  me  sad  to  see 
them  so,"  returned  Adela,  musingly. 
' '  He  is  young,  and  it  seems  to  me, 
formed  for  the  joys  of  domestic  life, 
yet  he  voluntarily  renounces  them 
all  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow  crea- 
tures. I  thought  of  that  when  I  saw 
Carrie  this  afternoon.  Do  you  think 
it  is  possible  that  for  love  of  her  he 
has  resigned  himself  to  this  life  ;  she 
seems  so  different  from  him." 

' '  She  is, "  said  Thornton,  gravely. 
"  He  is  strong  and  firm  in  character, 
and  she  so  trivial  and  vacillating.  I 
never  knew  her  firm  but  once,  and 
that  was  in  keeping  poor  La  Guerita's 
secret.  But,  Adela,  she  is  not  the 
lost  love  that  Fabean  has  buried  in 
his  heart.  The  night  before  we  were 
married  we  walked  together  in  the 
garden  at  Holmsford,  talking  of  my 
future  happiness,  and  I  said  :  '  Fa- 
bean,  may  you  soon  know  the  like 
felicity.  My  friend,  I  pray  thee  take 
a  wife. ' " 

"He  smiled  bitterly.  'No,  no/ 
he  said,  '  such  joys  are  not  for  me.  I 
am  a  proscribed  man  ;  how  could  I 
ask  one  of  a  pure  race  to  share  my 
destiny?  No,  no  ;  I  must  live  alone. 
When  Harold  is  a  man  there  may  be 
some  woman  like  his  mother  to  claim 
his  love,  but  there  is  none  for  me. '  "^ 


' '  Poor  fellow  !  "  sighed  Adela. 
' '  But  can  it  be  possible  that  he  has 
never  loved  ? " 

"Alas,  no,"  returned  her  husband, 
' '  for  that  night  he  laid  in  my  hands 
a  long,  fair  tress  of  hair.  'There, 
my  friend/  he  cried,  'is  all  that  I 
may  claim  of  earthly  joy.  That  lock 
my  dying  Mysta  gave  me.  She  was 
a  promised  bride ;  thank  God  she 
faded  from  earth  before  my  shame 
was  hers.  In  Heaven,  where  no 
shame  can  enter,  my  bride  awaits 
me. ' " 

"It  is  better  so,"  sighed  Adela. 
"  His  life  will  not  have  been  passed 
utterly  lovelessly.  Ah,  Thornton, 
love  is  so  sweet  that  'twere  a  lost  life 
that  knew  not  of  it,  even  though  it 
reached  not  its  perfection  in  mar- 
riage." 

They  walked  together  in  the  twi- 
light to  their  pleasant  home,  joined 
hand  in  hand  and  heart  to  heart, 
while  the  brother  and  sister  at  Enola 
spoke  calmly  together  of  the  loved 
ones  from  whom,  by  the  dark  waves 
of  Death  they  were  divided. 

CHAPTER   XLIV. 

CONCLUSION. 

"  It  is  a  glorious  occupation,  vivifying  and  self- 
sustaining  in  its  nature,  to  struggle  with  ignorance, 
and  discover  to  the  inquiring  minds  of  the  masses 
the  clear  cerulean  blue  of  heavenly  truth." 

Guizot. 

"I  stand 

On  a  sure  ground,  unshaken  as  a  rock 
That  bears  the  force  of  storms,  yet  still  remains 
Firm  on  its  base,  and  rears  its  lofty  head 
Above  the  clouds  !  " 

Bushe. 

A  YEAR  later  all  that  La  Guerita 
and  her  brother  had  set  apart  to  do 
was  well  begun.  Upon  the  grounds 
at  Enola  stood  a  large,  plain  build- 
ing, and  within  it  scores  of  homeless 


244 


In  Bonds. 


children  found  shelter,  and  young 
maidens  learned  the  duties  of  life. 
La  Guerita  aspired  to  no  high  work  ; 
she  did  not  blindly  strive  to  set  the 
ignorant  negroes  on  a  par  with  the 
whites,  but  to  fit  them  for  lives  of  in- 
dustry, that  they  might  sooner  gain 
the  high  destiny  that  God  had  set 
apart  for  them.  *• 

But,  during  that  long  year,  La 
Guerita's  pathway  was  not  thornless. 
Oh,  what  random  shots  rankled  in 
her  heart !  How  every  slighting 
word  or  look  cut  her  to  the  quick ! 
And  there  were  many  to  laugh  and 
sneer — to  whisper  of  her  origin,  her 
insanity,  and  question  lightly  her  pu- 
rity of  heart  and  mind. 

But  even  the  most  thoughtless  and 
most  cruel  could  not  withhold  them- 
selves from  her  long.  Insensibly  she 
charmed  all  hearts,  as  they  saw  how 
patiently  she  endured  all  things— 
how  she  combatted  the  evil  tenden- 
cies of  her  child,  and  found  solace 
for  all  her  griefs  in  the  great  work 
she  had  undertaken. 

And  Fabean,  too,  in  his  native 
State,  where  scorn  was  showered  up- 
on him  on  all  hands — where  every 
white  man  was  his  enemy — triumph- 
antly held  his  way.  The  most  skep- 
tical saw  that  his  plan  was  good — 
that  he  comprehended  perfectly  the 
position  of  the  freedmen,  and  how  it 
was  to  be  ameliorated,  with  profit  to 
both  the  whites  and  blacks.  He 
went  as  a  missionary  among  them — 
as  a  teacher,  not  an  autocrat ;  and 
shortly  he  was  both. 

For  a  year  he  remained  upon  his 
plantation,  toiling  with  and  for  the 
youths  about  him,  and  proving,  in  his 
daily  life,  that  though  love  be  dead, 
and  only  scorn  be  left  on  earth,  that 


the  heart  may  still  be  happy  which 
places  itself  above  the  things  of  the 
day  and  looks  for  its  joys  in  heaven. 

At  Christmas-tide  they  met — the 
brother  and  sister ;  and  long  they 
talked  together  of  their  toils.  He 
told  her  of  the  youths  he  was  train- 
_ing  to  become,  in  turn,  the  trainers 
of  their  race.  How  well  they  learned 
their  tasks  ;  how  they  were  casting  off 
their  ignorance  and  dependence  of 
slavery,  and  learning,  as  men,  to  hold 
and  use  their  freedom. 

On  Christmas-day  their  only  guests 
were  the  friends  who  had  known  and 
shared  their  troubles — Mrs.  DeGrey 
and  Victor,  and  Colonel  Leslie  and 
his  wife,  with  a  little  one  they  called 
Asenith,  in  tender  remembrance  of 
her  whose  life  was  a  record  of  good 
deeds,  without  a  single  blot. 

' '  To-day  I  have  planned  to  show 
you  my  home  and  school,"  said  La 
Guerita,  as  they  drove  from  church  ; 
"my  children  have  a  little  festival 
to-day. " 

' '  I'll  go  before  and  tell  them  that 
you  are  coming, "  said  Harold,  stop- 
ping the  carriage  and  springing  to 
the  ground. 

"Harold  loves  his  old  compan- 
ions still,"  remarked  Mrs.  Leslie. 

' '  Yes, "  returned  La  Guerita,  ' '  and 
'tis  better  so  ;  that  time  can  never  be 
forgot,  and,  thank  God,  it  is  not  all 
dark  to  him  ;  and  when  I  hear  him 
speak  of  some  of  the  happy  hours 
he  knew,  his  words  seem  like  bless- 
ings to  me  ;  yet  I  know  he  will  live 
to  reproach  me." 

"Let  us  think  no  more  of  that," 
said  Fabean,  gently,  "but  rather  of 
the   noble   work   you   have    begun. 
Look   at   the   happy   faces    looking 
.down  upon  us  from  those  windows. " 


In  Bonds. 


The  carriage  stopped  at  the  door 
of  the  school,  which  was  opened  by 
an  aged  negro,  who  had  belonged  to 
Claude  Leveredge's  estate,  and  whom 
Fabean  had  sent  from  his  own,  to  his 
sister's  care.  He  welcomed  them  de- 
lightedly, but  was  silenced  by  Aunt 
Dilsey,  the  housekeeper,  who,  with 
all  the  dignity  and  importance  war- 
ranted by  her  high  position,  conduct- 
ed the  visitors  to  the  reception  room, 
whence,  after  warming  themselves 
before  the  glowing  fire,  they  went  to 
inspect  the  different  portions  of  the 
building. 

Three  large  school-rooms  were  first 
visited,  which  were  furnished  with 
every  convenience,  and  where  well- 
thumbed  primers  and  blotted  copy- 
books showed  the  work  of  education 
had  begun.  The  teachers  spoke  of 
the  improvement  of  their  scholars 
most  encouragingly,  and  each  had 
something  to  tell  of  a  bright  little 
creature,  whose  aptitude  for  music, 
or  drawing,  or  figures,  had  made  him 
or  her  appear  a  very  genius.  Then 
the  work-rooms  were  visited,  and  the 
needle-work  carefully  examined  by 
the  ladies. 

"This  helps  us  much, "said  La 
Guerita  ;  "the  ladies  of  the  town 
have  lost  their  first  distrust,  and  send 
us  more  work  than  can  be  easily 
done.  Already  we  have  sent  out 
two  seamstresses,  who  are  giving  the 
greatest  satisfaction.  But  come  in 
here  ;  I  will  show  you  my  nurse- 
ry-" 

She  opened  a  door,  and  conducted 
Adela  into  a  large  room,  in  which 
stood  a  number  of  little  cots,  the 
owners  of  which  were  disporting 
themselves  upon  the  floor,  while  two 
young  girls  sat  near  them  sewing. 


"You  see,  I  make  practical  nurse- 
maids, "  said  La  Guerita,  smiling ; 
"and  these  will  go  into  the  world 
and  give  an  example  to  others  ;  so, 
too,  will  the  kitchen  servants,  whom 
you  must  see  next." 

They  descended  to  the  culinary 
department,  where  they  were  imme- 
diately overwhelmed  with  greetings 
from  Aunt  Dilsey  and  Roxy,  who 
ruled  there. 

' '  I'se  jest  as  happy  as  de  day  is 
long  !  "  cried  the  latter ;  ' '  though 
de  Lord  knows  I  didn't  mind  furj 
myself,  'twas  de  chillun  that  used 
to  fret  me.  Now  dere  ain't  no  more 
sorrow  in  dis  wrorl'  fur  me.  All  de 
chillun  is  togeder,  and  no  body  kin 
part  'em  but  de  blessed  Lord.  Heah, 
you,  Seely ;  you  peel  them  taters ; 
Lizzie,  is  this  a  time  to  put  cabbage 
a  bilin'  ?  You'll  never  be  a  cook 
s'long  s'  you  live,  ef  you  don't  'tend 
to  me  better.  Miss  Rita,  dere  ain't 
anythin'  in  de  word  to  be  a  done 
wid  dat  chile. " 

They  went,  lastly,  to  a  large  room, 
which  had  been  fitted  up  as  a  chapel, 
and  ringing  a  large  bell,  La  Guerita 
seated  herself  with  her  friends  upon 
the  platform,  and  with  glistening  eyes 
looked  upon  her  charges  as  they  gath- 
ered in,  casting  upon  her  glances  full 
of  love  and  respect. 

Colonel  Leslie  and  his  wife  looked 
on  in  surprise.  -  Although  they  lived 
so  near,  they  had  not  even  conjec- 
tured that  so  large  a  number  had 
been  gathered  in,  so  ostentatiously 
had  the  work  progressed.  Tears 
filled  their  eyes  as  they  listened  to 
the  simple  prayer  offered  by  the  old 
freedmen,  and  to  the  songs  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving  that  ascended  to 
God  from  the  full  hearts  of  those 


246 


In   Bonds. 


who  were  but  beginning  to  know 
how  great  a  boon  was  liberty. 

Fabean  spoke  a  few  words  to  them, 
telling  them  how  he  was  striving  to 
lead  their  brothers  to  lives  of  useful 
toil,  and  encouraging  them  to  pursue 
them  for  themselves.  He  spoke  to 
them  plainly,  exhorting  them  to  no 
ambitious  goal,  but  telling  them  that 
minds  long  abased  by  slavery  must 
struggle  long,  and  cast  off  a  thou- 
sand cerements  of  custom  and  igno- 
rance, ere  they  can  take  upon  them 
the  work  of  those  who  have  ever 
lived  beneath  the  vitifying  influences 
of  freedom. 

Adela — the  happy  wife,  the  joyous 
young  mother — almost  envied  the 
lone  widow  as  she  stood  among  her 
charges,  and  they  pressed  around  her 
for  one  word  or  kindly  glance. 
There  was  about  her  an  air  of  deep- 
est tranquility  and  content,  and  in 
her  sable  weeds  she  looked  more 
beautiful  than  when  the  bridal  wreath 
rested  upon  her  brow. 

' '  Thank  God  !  "  whispered  Thorn- 
ton, ' '  that  tortured  heart  has  found 
peace  at  last.  In  making  the  happi- 
ness of  others,  she  has  made  her  own. " 

They  left  the  school  then,  and  drove 
to  Enola,  where  the  day  was  passed  in 
speaking  of  plans  for  the  future.  La 
Guerita's  were  simple  enough  ;  it 
was,  through  all  her  life,  to  continue 
what  she  had  begun. 

"  I  am  not  rich  enough,"  she  said, 
' '  to  keep  any  one  in  idleness,  and  I 
love  those  poor  creatures  too  well  to 
wish  to  do  so  ;  and  though  now  they 
sometimes  repine,  and  often  rebel, 
they  will  some  day  know  that  only 
by  toil  can  their  race  be  raised  to  the 
position  of  mankind  —  they  were 
mere  brutes  so  long. " 


"But  they  were  made  in  God's 
own  image, "  said  Fabean,  gravely  ; 
"and  though  they  have  been  trod- 
den under  foot,  yet  will  He  raise 
them  up  ;  yet  who  will  aid,  who  will 
guide  them  ?  Those  that  love  them 
most  will  mislead  them  by  their  un- 
timely counsels." 

' '  That  is  true, "  said  Thornton  ; 
"you  alone  do  I  know,  who,  in  a 
practical*  way,  demonstrate  to  them 
the  path  they  must  punsue,  and  strive 
to  fit  them  for  it. " 

' '  But  others  will  arise, "  returned 
Fabean.  "The  Government  has 
something  of  the  spirit,  as  has  been 
shown  by  .the  Freedmen's  Bureau, 
and  by  other  means,  and  private  in- 
dividuals are  awakening  to  it.  Your 
young  brother,  Mrs.  Leslie,  is  with 
us  heart  and  soul." 

' '  We  were  much  disappointed 
when  he  refused  to  go  to  college," 
said  Adela  ;  "we  thought  pride  in- 
duced him  to  refuse  Thornton's  aid. " 

"No,  no,"  replied  Fabean;  "it 
was  not  pride ;  but  he  rightly  thought 
he  would  make  but  an  indifferent  pro- 
fessional man,  while,  as  a  practical 
farmer,  his  career  of  usefulness  would 
be  unlimited.  He  was  correct ;  and 
already,  from  our  example  alone, 
agriculture  has  improved  so  greatly 
throughout  the  county  that  poverty 
must  soon  become  unknown.  Ah, 
I  forgot ;  Will.  Russell,  too,  since 
his  return  from  Europe,  has  interest- 
ed himself  in  our  plans.  But  I  for- 
got to  tell  you,  and  I  know  that  for 
my  remissness  I  shall  never  be  for- 
given— Will.  Russell  is  about  to  be 
married  !  " 

"To  be  married!"  echoed  La 
Guerita,  in  surprise,  while  Mrs.  Les- 
lie reddened,  as  her  husband  glanced 


In  Bonds. 


247 


at  her  ;   "and  pray  who  is  he  to  be 
married  to  ? " 

' '  That  is  the  most  wonderful  part 
of  all ;  it  is  to  Mrs.  Claude  Lever- 
edge.  It  appears  that  when  he  first 
saw  her,  she  reminded  him  of  some 
one,  who  shall  be  nameless,  and 
whom  he  had  once  loved,  and  that 
the  most  of  his  time  in  Europe  was 
spent  in  inquiries  concerning  her, 
which,  I  presume,  must  have  been 
satisfactory,  for  they  are  to  be  mar- 
ried within  the  month  ;  and  all  I  re- 
gret is,  that  my  engagements  here 
will  prevent  me  from  witnessing  the 
ceremony. " 

Victor  reddened,  and  soon  after 
bade  them  farewell,  that  he  might 
spend  the  evening  with  his  promised 
bride.  His  mother  looked  after  him 
with  a  smile.  He  was  to  make  no 
mesalliance ;  yet,  as  she  lifted  her 
Harold's  child  upon  her  knee,  she 
thought  :  ' '  Ah,  my  son,  my  son  !  if 
thou  hadst  but  lived  to  know  truly 
thy  noble  wife  !  God  grant  that  in 
Heaven  thou  knowest  how  little 
cause  thou  hadst  to  have  shame  of 
her !  " 

And  later  when  the  guests  had  de- 
parted and  Harold  lay  sleeping  on 
his  mother's  arms,  she  sat  with  her 
brother  looking  upon  the  glowing 
fire,  and  talking  of  all  the  strange 
vicissitudes  of  her  life,  and  Fabean, 
for  the  first  time  told  her  how  their 
lives  were  twin  by  a  common  tie — the 
loved  and  lost. 

Then  bowing  her  head  on  his 
shoulder,  she  whispered  : 

' '  My  brother,  nought  can  darken 
our  lives  again  ;  all  clouds  of  sor- 
row has  swept  over  us,  and  should 


any  return  they  cannot  shut  out  the 
light,  for  we  know  that  our  sun 
shineth  forever  —  that  forever  God 
liveth  who  hath  led  us  and  our  people 
from  bondage,  and  giving  us  the 
blessed  work  of  guiding  his  helpless 
children. " 

* '  Thank  God  for  that  work, "  said 
Fabean  ;  "I  feel  my  life  a  holy  thing 
thus  consecrated,  knowing  that  though 
here  I  bear  it  in  shame,  God  will  ac- 
count it  worthy  of  honor  in  that  day 
when  he  judgeth  the  quick  and  the 
dead." 

His  face  sank  upon  his  sister's 
shining  hair,  and  his  soul  drank  in 
comfort  as  she  whispered  the  sweetest 
words  of  England's  sweet  singer  : 

"  Only  my  heart  to  my  heart  shall  show  it 
As  I  walk  desolate   day  by  day." 

' '  For  oh,  Fabean,  I  know  that  my 
husband  waits  and  longs  for  me  ; 
that  he  has  seen  and  pitied  me  in  my 
bonds,  even  as  the  merciful  Savior 
did.  Yes— 

"  And  yet  I  know,  past  all  doubting,  truly — 
A  knowledge  greater  than  grief  can  dim — 
I  know,  as  he  loved,  he  will  love  me  duly, 
Yea  better,  e'en  better  than  I  love  him. 

"  And  as  I  walk  by   the  vast  calm  river, 

The  awful  river  so  dread  to  see, 
I  say,  *  thy  breadth  and  thy  depth  forever, 
Are  bridged  by  his  thoughts  that  cross  to  me.1  " 

And  counting  their  work  but  just 
begun,  and  all  their  sorrows  but  prep- 
arations for  it — the  brother  and  sister 
• — with  steady  faith,  pursue  their  way, 
holding  their  loves  precious,  and 
hoping  at  last  to  yield  them  as  jewels 
to  the  crown  of  Him  who  breaketh 
all  bonds,  and  out  of  the  depths  of 
worldly  scorn  and  shame,  raiseth  his 
loved  ones  to  eternal  glory. 


ELECTRO-SILICON,  OR  MAGIC  BRILLIANT, 

DIRECT    FROM    NATURE'S    LABORATORY. 


Sole  Agents,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA. 

TR-A.I3EJ 


WM.  H.  KEITH  &  CO.,  Apothecaries. 
521  Montgomery  St.,  San  Francisco,  Price,  25  Cents, 


ELECTRO-SILICON*  is  not  a  chemical  compound,  but  a  natural  product  or  deposit  of  the 
minute  shells  of  Infusoria,  and  is  found  in  the  State  of  Nevada.  It  is  ascertained  by 
analysis  to  be  pure  silex  or  Silicon,  containing  nothing  that  is  injurious  for  the  pur- 
poses for  which  it  is  recommended.  It  gives  a  beautiful  lustre  to  gold,  silver  and  plated 
ware,  and  also  brightens  and  cleans  tin  and  Britannia  ware  in  the  most  surprising  man- 
ner. After  using  it  once,  no  housekeeper  will  ever  be  without  it 

To  jewelers  and  workers  in  gold  and  silver  plate,  the  Electro-Silicon  is  of  inestimable 
value.  The  time  saved,  and  the  vexation  prevented  by  its  use,  will  forever  endear  its 
name  to  all  who  have  had  evidence  of  its  merits.  The  following  certificates  from  well 
known  jewelers  and  others  of  this  city,  will  serve  to  attest  the  truth  of  this  statement  : 

Ifessrs.  Win.  H.  Keith  <fc  Co.,  Agents.  SAN  FRANCISCO,  April  23,  1867. 

Having  tested  the  qualities  of  the  Electro-Silicon  or  Magic  Brilliant,  by  actual  use, 
we  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  we  consider  it  the  best  article  yet  discovered  for  clean- 
ing all  polished  metallic  surfaces,  acting,  as  its  name  implies,  like  magic.  It  contains 
no  mercury  or  injurious  substance,  and  what  is  of  great  importance  to  its  use  on  plated 
ware,  it  will  not  wear  away  the  plating.  Yours  truly, 

GEO.  C.  SHREVE  &  CO.,  Jewelers. 


Messrs.  Wm.  H.  Keith  <fe  Co.,  Agents.  SAN  FRANCISCO,  June  14th,  1867. 

We  are  now  using  the  Electro-Silicon  Polish,  and  find  it  the  best  in  use. 

J.  W.  TUCKER  &  CO., 
Importers  and  Manufacturing  Jewelers,  Montgomery  Street. 

Messrs.  Wm.  H.  Keith  <fc  Co.  SAN  FRANCISCO,  June  15th,  1867. 

SIRS — We  have  experimented  in  our  Factory  with  your  Electro-Silicon,  and  pronounce 
it  far  superior  to  all  other  preparations  for 'polishing  articles  of  gold  and  silver.  We 
think  it  hardly  possible  that  any  other  substance  can  supercede  it  in  the  favor  of  jewel- 
ers, who  can  appreciate  the  beautiful  lustre  it  imparts  to  all  goods  in  their  line. 

Truly  yours,  BARRETT  &  SHERWOOD,  Jewelers. 

Electro-Silicon  Company.  SAN  FRANCISCO,  Jan.  3d.  1867. 

GENTS — We  have  used,  with  the  greatest  satisfaction,  your  Electro-Silicon  or  Magic 
Brilliant,  for  cleaning  and  polishing  our  gold  and  silver  ware.  The  superiority  of  your 
brilliant  polish  over  any  other  now  in  use,  is  certainly  surprising,  and  its  advantages 
are  unparalleled,  as  it  contains  no  acid,  mercury,  or  other  substances  injurious  to  the 
finest  gold  and  silver  ware,  or  to  other  metals  requiring  a  brilliant  lustre.  We  cheer- 
fully recommend  this  most  surprising  discovery  of  the  age. 

M.  M.  BALDWIN  &  CO.,  Jewelers, 
CARL  H.  HALN  &  CO., 
C.  E.  COLLINS  &  CO., 
SAM'L  HILL, 

Agent  of  the  Florence  Sewing  Machines. 

J.  P.  LfiCOUNT  &  CO.,  Stationers. 

Corner  Sacramento  and  Montgomery  Streets. 


AGENCY    FOR 

STEIN  WAY  &  SONS' 


C ARH ART  &  NEEDHAM'S 


i 

Melodeons,  Church  and  School  Harmoniums. 

(Illustrated    Catalogues    of  the    above.) 


Cornets, 

STRINGS. 

GENUINE  EOMAN,  OP  DIKEGT  IMPORTATION,  FOE 

Violin,          Viola,  Violincello,          Double-Bass, 

Harp,          Guitar,          Banjo,          Zither. 

MUSICAL    INSTRUMENTS    OF    EVERY    DESCRIPTION. 

SHEET  MUSIC  AND  BOOKS, 

Wholesale  and  Retail, 

@f 


609  and  613  Clay  Street,  San  Francisco,  Gal. 


FIRST  PREMIUM 


519  MONTGOMERY  STREET, 


Bet.  Clay  and  Commercial,       Saa 


Ear-Drops,  Breast  Pins,  Finger  Rings, 


ELASTIC    STITCH/^ 

FA.MXi.ir  /^*W/ 

SEWING_MACHINE$I 

FOR   EMBROIDERY 
FOR   BRAIDING 
FOR   QUILTING 
FOR  HEMMING 
FOR  TUCKING 

ARE    UNAPPROACHABLE. 

FOR   GATHERING 

ARE    UNSURPASSED. 

FOR  STITCHING 

ARE    FAULTLESS. 

FOR   CORDING 

ARE    INCOMPARABLE. 


8TIT  CH 
Sewing 


FOR   FELLING 

ARE    ADMIRABLE. 


THE 

SIR!? 


IN 


USE. 


FOB 

MANUFACTURING. 

PARTICULAR     ATTENTION 

Is  desired  from  all  who  require  a 

Fast,    Durable   and   Improved 


Sewing     machine 

In  any  Branch  of  Manufacturing, 

To    our  NEW  STYLES  which  possess  unmistaka- 
ble   advantages   over  the    NOISY    and   CUMBROUS 
styles  of  other  makers.     CALL  AND  EXAMINE. 

JLn©mt? 

116  Montgomery  Street. 


S> 


